How long has it been since you last had to deal with a cavity, or since your dentist warned you about symptoms of gingivitis? With good daily habits and regular appearances for routine dental care, you can keep your risk for oral health issues low. One thing to watch out for is a growing comfort with your daily routine, something that can make a person less attentive to how they are caring for their smile. Seemingly small problems with your brushing routine can lead to tartar buildup, and that can make you more likely to need a dental filling or dental crown at a future appointment! If you have struggled with maintaining your oral health but feel unsure of why, your Sheridan, WY dentist can help you identify shortcomings that you should address.
How Effective Is Your Daily Oral Hygiene Routine?
How often do you brush, and how long does your typical brushing session take? How long has it been since you replaced your toothbrush? Problems with inconsistency or using the same brush for too long can lead to many people gaining less benefit from daily smile care. In a short time, plaque deposits can harden and form tartar, which you will not be able to remove on your own. Missing certain hard-to-reach spaces when you clean your smile, giving yourself a less thorough cleaning than you realize, or using the wrong products can lower the value of your at-home efforts, and that can lead to more cavity risks.
Brushing Mistakes That You Should Avoid
There are certain mistakes that people make which may make cavities and issues with gum disease difficult to avoid. One thing to remember is that you should brush at least twice a day, and you should take at least two minutes to fully clean your teeth. Doing so reduces your risk of letting certain areas go uncleaned, which means you are not as likely to develop tartar buildup. After three months, or when the bristles start to look worn down, you should replace your toothbrush. Worn bristles can do a less effective job at cleaning your smile. One other problem to watch out for is using the wrong toothpaste. Make sure that you only use toothpaste featuring an ADA Seal Of Acceptance, which confirms that the product has the right minerals to protect your teeth.
What Else Can You Do To Keep Your Smile Cavity-Free?
Your brushing routine is important, but you should not treat brushing like a potential substitute for flossing. Without flossing, your are more likely to deal with problems with tooth decay and gum disease because of bacteria buildup between teeth. Remember that you also need to be smart about your diet if you want to avoid problems. Poor selections of food and drink can lead to more cavity troubles as well as an accumulation of unsightly teeth stains.
Your Sheridan, WY Dentist Can Help You Protect Your Smile!
Grinnell Street Dental can help you take care of your smile in our office, and we can provide guidance to make your daily routine more effective! To learn more, please call our dentist’s office in Sheridan, WY at 307-672-7567.
