While regular dental visits are crucial, it’s equally important to have—and stick to—an effective, comprehensive at-home dental care routine.
Consistently keeping up with oral hygiene is essential for a healthy smile, of course, and—by virtue of those omnidirectional good vibes your pearly whites project when in full-on “cheese” mode, sure to engender some measure of reciprocation in kind—an easy ally in the pursuit of overall well-being! Healthy, hearty grins are infectious; count on that easy, confident smile paying dividends in the form of mood-boosting intrapersonal connectivity when mirrored by close compadre or (in the right circumstances!) complete stranger alike.
Alternately, letting the ol’ at-home dental routine fall (and remain) by the wayside is a gradually-actualized guarantee for the flashing of your champers to result among increasingly often among onlookers in the snap-transition of widened eyes into averted gazes…
While regular dental visits are crucial, it’s equally important to have—and stick to—an effective, comprehensive at-home dental care routine. Indeed, plenty of people are surprised to learn that brushing itself isn’t enough to prevent oral diseases, let alone keep your smile looking its best.
Read along below as we explore some essential dental care practices recommended for incorporation into your existing at-home routine; any extra “effort” is trivial compared to the extra… results, which’ll keep your teeth/gums in light-up-the-room shape.
Mouthwash: More Than a Breath of Fresh… Breath
Mouthwash isn’t just for combating halitosis; it also plays a vital role in general oral health. Sure, a good mouthwash helps control bad breath, but also removes harmful microbes, strengthens teeth with fluoride, and reduces the risk of gum disease. So, for best results, opt for therapeutic mouthwashes that contain both antimicrobial agents and fluoride.
Oral Irrigation: A Can’t-Skip Dental Care Component
Oral irrigators, tools we ubiquitously encounter (and are occasionally if forgivably shirt-spritzed by) at the dentist’s office, can be quite a valuable addition to your at-home dental care routine. These handheld devices, often referred to commercially as water picks, utilize a powerful stream of—you guessed it—water for removing food particles et al to thoroughly cleanse your gums; consider it a complementary component of what we’re after with “traditional flossing.” -Oral irrigation is an especially beneficial tactic if you wear braces or have partial dentures, as it can reach areas that traditional brushing may miss.
…But Don’t Forego the Floss!
Flossing is a vital step that many (read: most) people overlook. According to the American Dental Association, only 40% of Americans floss daily—and 20% don’t floss at all. -If you find yourself a denizen of these dubious percentiles, hey, we get it: flossing can be a tough addition to one’s daily routine for any number of reasons. Know, however, that your gums will strengthen in a surprisingly short time, and any pain or minor bleeding will very quickly subside with a mote of stick-to-itiveness.
Dental floss helps remove food particles stuck between teeth, ultimately warding off the type of gum disease and tooth decay that can lead to unsightly/unhealthy oral trouble—and the eventual necessity for professional dental intervention of a sort bound inevitably, so to speak, to hit a nerve….
So: make it a habit to floss at least twice a day—you have the willpower!
The (Non-Scary) Scraper: TLC for Tongues
Your tongue deserves—frankly, needs—some attention, too. Cleaning the tongue helps prevent growth of bacteria that (quuuickly) contribute to bad breath, and, down the line, more serious oral health issues. A trusty tongue scraper—not nearly as intimidating as it sounds!—is an excellent tool for removing excess plaque along with any/all sundry “gunk” in one fell swoop (…well, more like a couple fell swoops…), keeping that mouth of yours fresh and bacteria-free. Though consistency must again be emphasized as key here, fret not: a few gentle scrapings a week should be perfectly sufficient.
Closing Thoughts
It’s always wise to look for dental tools with the ADA Seal of Approval to ensure your purchase’s implicit high standard of quality and effectiveness. -And hey, if your at-home dental care regimen seems in need of a major overhaul, there’s no need to overwhelm yourself with the prospect of incorporating all these changes at once!; ease into healthy habits at a manageable pace you can build on comfortably, encouraged (as you will be) by you steady, sparkly progress. Soon enough, the cumulatively-reaped benefits will start reflecting more and more in your smile—with each tooth, eventually, a veritable and awe-inspiring sun in the wondrous maxillary/mandibular galaxy that is, dear reader, your now-appropriately-cared-for kisser.
Catonsville Dental Care Can Handle All of Your Oral Care Needs
Catonsville Dental Care offers a wide variety of services when it comes to oral health. We have the experience and understanding to diagnose and treat any problem you have as quickly and painlessly as possible. With four dentists available at our office and a commitment to comfort, safety, and relaxation, you can’t find a better provider for your health. We look forward to helping you keep your smile perfect all year long and talking with you about your needs. To schedule an appointment or consultation, visit us online or give us a call at 410-747-1115. For more tips and tricks, follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.