Oral health can be a breeze if you keep up good practices and visit Drs. Wager and Evans every six months. Make sure to brush 2-3 times every day and floss once. Like any habit, if you brush as often as you should, you may become complacent. Don’t get sloppy with your oral health; experts agree that a healthy mouth can keep your body healthy, too.
Use Proper Brushing Technique
If you don’t use proper technique when you take care of your teeth, you might be hurting more than you’re helping. To brush effectively, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle at your gum line. This angle can help you avoid gum abrasion. Don’t brush across your teeth; instead, move your brush up and down, softly stroking your teeth. A lot of people forget about the back surfaces completely. The back of your teeth is a crucial place to scrub because your tongue, which is usually caked with bacteria, presses against these surfaces all day long.
Your oral healthcare routine shouldn’t end with brushing; make sure to take good care of your toothbrush so that bacteria don’t grow when you’re not using it. Follow up every brushing session by rinsing your brush thoroughly. Additionally, put your brush in a place that allows the bristles to dry completely before the next use. Not only will a moist brush cultivate bacteria, but it will also misshape the bristles so that they can damage your gums. Make your routine clean from start to finish and your dental visits will be a breeze.
Change Your Toothbrush
The American Dental Association (ADA) advocates changing to a new toothbrush every 3-4 months, but don’t go by a strict timeline; inspect your brush on a regular basis to make sure you are getting a good scrub every time. If the bristles begin to lose pliability, or begin to break, it’s time to change out your brush.
Don’t Skimp on Brushing Time
If you don’t brush long enough, you might end up spending more time taking care of your teeth in the long run. Brushing 3 times a day is the best-case scenario, but 2 will also get the job done. Each time you brush, make sure you do so for at least 2 minutes. If you have a difficult time standing in the bathroom for the whole time, try watching television while you do the job (but make sure to do a good job while you multi-task).
Visit Drs. Wager and Evans for six-month checkups and cleanings — and to find out if your oral health routine is working. Call (775) 829-7700 today to schedule your visit in our Reno dentist office. Wager Evans Dental is invested in your overall health and quality of life.
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