A beautiful, healthy smile begins at home and is supported by a good dentist, who ideally should be visited every six months or so. If the patient’s home care is good, all the dentist will have to do is look at the teeth and mouth and give them a clean bill of health.
Brushing
The first order of business when it comes to dental hygiene is brushing the teeth, which should be done at least twice a day. The teeth should be brushed in tiny circles, both in the front in the back, by a toothbrush with soft bristles. Though many people believe that a firmer toothbrush can get their teeth cleaner, a soft bristle brush won’t hurt the gums. An electric toothbrush can also be used for people who have trouble manipulating the brush. Fluoride toothpaste should also be used. A rule of thumb is that the tooth brushing session should last as long as the brusher’s favorite song.
The brush should be rinsed thoroughly after brushing, stored upright and air-dried before it’s used again. Toothbrushes should be replaced when the bristles start looking frayed or after the user has been ill.
Flossing
Dental floss can be waxed or plain and flavored with mint or unflavored. It gets to the tight spaces between the teeth that the toothbrush can’t reach. The user should pay out a long line of floss, wind its ends around the middle fingers and gently scrape the plaque the length of the tooth. Then the user should unwind for a fresh bit of floss and repeat. Some people who can’t reach their back teeth very well use a floss holder.
Clean the Tongue
The tongue can be brushed or scraped with a thing that’s actually called a tongue scraper. As with flossing, this will remove bacteria. The roof of the mouth should also be brushed.
Rinsing
The user should finish the session with an antibacterial rinse. This will help take away whatever plaque is left between the teeth. A rinse of warm salty water is also good, especially if the gums are a bit sore.
Other Methods
Other kinds of dental hygiene are an oral irrigator which blasts particles away from the spaces between the teeth. Some people chew a pill that reveals the areas of plaque that remain on the teeth by staining them red.
Schedule A Dental Check-Up
Every six months, call a trusted dentist to schedule check-ups for your family. Dr. Paul Gonzalesproudly serves the dental needs of the Bolivar, Missouri area. We are also proud to serve the communities of Springfield, Buffalo, Halfway, Pleasant Hope, Stockton, Fair Play, Morrisville, Eldorado Springs and Wheatland. Feel free to call us at (417) 777-8654 with any questions or concerns you have or to make an appointment.
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six month check-up online.
Couple Brushing Teeth
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