October is National Dental Hygiene Month! What better time to get your dental routine back on track than as fall gears up and schedules are in place. So if you haven’t been giving enough love to your mouth, teeth, and gum health lately, don’t despair. Although daily hygiene supports oral health best, it’s never too late to start taking good dare of your dental health.
Simple Step to Good Dental Hygiene
Here are some things you can do to ensure good oral health:
- Brush at least twice a day with short back and forth strokes for at least two minutes each time to remove food particles, bacteria and plaque. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to protect tooth enamel. Replace your toothbrush roughly every three months and once bristles are frayed.
- Floss your teeth regularly to get to those spots your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco. Not only can tobacco stain teeth but it also allows bacteria to grow, can cause dry mouth, and increases the risk of infection.
- Nutrition is a great support to good dental health. Sugar, whether in food or beverages, can feed the bacteria that causes the acid that harms teeth. Instead turn to crunch fruits and vegetables for snacks and water to not on only stay hydrated and promote salvia production but to also help flush out particles from eating.
- Fluoride is a great tool to support healthy teeth and gums. Use fluoride toothpaste and check to see if your local water is fluoridated.
One Last Piece of the Dental Health Puzzle
If you’re doing all you can at home to promote good dental hygiene, remember to not skip that last piece of the puzzle – your six-month dental check-up. It’s the perfect time for us to be proactive in caring for your dental health and stopping concerns before they start. But don’t worry, if it’s been awhile we can still help you begin to care for your oral hygiene and encourage you to keep with it until you see us again. Call our office at (248) 852-3130 if you have any questions and to schedule your next visit with us.