To achieve the healthy smile you deserve, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing and flossing daily to remove dental plaque and bacteria from your smile. It’s important to brush at least two minutes, twice a day to thoroughly clean your teeth and ward off tooth decay and gum disease.
Choosing a brush with soft bristles protects both tooth enamel and gum tissue, while a small-medium toothbrush head will reach the areas in the back of the mouth where oral debris tends to collect. A good general guideline for an effective daily oral hygiene routine means brushing twice a day, flossing once (bedtime is ideal) and following up your flossing with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Whenever you eat, it is a good idea to either rinse well to remove oral debris and to neutralize the harmful acid from the foods and drinks you consume. You can also chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva production which both washes away bacteria and dilute acid in the mouth.
If you are active in sports or high impact recreational activities, be sure to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth, tongue, lips, face or jaw. A mouthguard worn at night will protect your smile if you have a tendency to grind your teeth in your sleep. This can help prevent enamel erosion, migraines, and TMJ which affects the jaw joints.
Feed your teeth and gums the nutrients they need to thrive. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals along with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein, healthy dairy and whole grains will support your oral health. Cheese is a great snack, as it helps to neutralize acids in the mouth from bacteria. One of the best things you can do for your oral health is to avoid or limit sugary foods and drinks, along with sticky foods that create acids from oral bacteria.
And finally, be sure to visit your dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and checkup. This will help to spot problems early when they are most easily treated and least invasively.
To schedule your next cleaning with our dentist, Dr. Drs. Choi & Choi in San Francisco, California, please call 415-986-1491 today to speak with a member of our team. At Richard Choi, DMD & Ryan Choi, DMD, we look forward to supporting your oral health efforts to give you the smile you deserve!
