While you should do more than just brush your teeth if you want to avoid problems with your oral health, it is difficult to overstate the value of good brushing habits. Unfortunately, many people who assume they are following good habits can actually make mistakes that make their efforts less effective than they realize. You may not realize that your routine could benefit from changes until you learn from your St. Louis, MO dentist that you require restorative dental work! With a few important adjustments, you can ensure that your work to clean your smile is as effective as you believe it to be, which can help you avoid troubles with tooth decay and gum disease!
Give Yourself At Least Two Minutes To Thoroughly Brush Your Teeth
Every area of your smile should be thoroughly cleaned whenever you brush. What can you do to make sure that even the hardest areas to access are receiving enough attention from your toothbrush? Your routine calls for time as well as effort – to effectively clean your teeth, you should spend at least two minutes on brushing them. To check on the time you currently spend on this task, set a timer for two minutes and clean until it goes off. If this felt like an unusually long session, your previous efforts may have been less effective at protecting you than you realized!
Is It Time To Replace Your Current Toothbrush?
After repeated uses, it should come as no surprise to notice your brush bristles exhibit signs of wearing down. After three months, the friction from brushing can actually wear them down to the point of hurting their effectiveness at cleaning your smile. Replacing your toothbrush at this point is recommended. With that said, if you want to avoid future problems with decay that require the placement of dental fillings or dental crowns, watch for wear and tear before the three month mark. If the brush looks to be in relatively poor condition, picking up a new one can be beneficial.
Take Care Of Your Gum Line When You Brush
You are protecting yourself against more than just cavities when you brush your teeth. If you are not doing a good job cleaning at your gum line, plaque and calculus buildup at the base of your teeth can raise your risk for gingivitis! Passing the bristles over these tissues (and cleaning the base of teeth when you floss) can help you avoid periodontal troubles. If you are worried your gums are already in poor health, Dr. Johnson can provide feedback during your next dental checkup.
Count On Consistent Smile Support At Magnolia Family Dental
At Magnolia Family Dental, people in and around the St. Louis, MO community can receive quality smile care during every appointment. In addition to providing care at our practice, Dr. Johnson can offer guidance to help you do a better job cleaning your teeth at home. To find out more about us, call our St. Louis, MO area dentist’s office at 314-822-4521.
