We know you’ve been brushing your teeth for years, but it might be time for a new brushing and flossing regimen. People tend to fall into the same daily routine, but brushing your teeth isn’t something that should be done in a quick 30 seconds. Do you think you’re doing great with your oral hygiene? Ask yourself these questions to see if your oral health is up to the standard that it should be.
- Do you brush twice daily? It is important to brush your teeth twice a day to clear your mouth of unwanted debris or germs that may have accumulated during the day and while sleeping.
- Do you brush for 2 minutes? You should be brushing your teeth for at least 120 seconds to ensure a full cleaning.
- Do you floss? Flossing once daily helps to loosen and remove hard to reach plaque before brushing.
- Do you floss without your gums bleeding? If your gums are pink and don’t bleed when you floss, that’s great! If your gums do bleed, you may need to reevaluate your cleaning routine.
- Do you always have bad breath? If you constantly need a breath mint to cover up the bad breath, you may need to take a look at what you’re doing to maintain a healthy mouth. Constant bad breath shouldn’t be a problem with good oral hygiene techniques.
After asking yourself these questions, have you realized that maybe your oral health and hygiene techniques need an upgrade? Your Catonsville dentists are here to help. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while brushing and flossing:
- Separate your mouth into sections and brush each section for 30 seconds. By focusing on ¼ of your mouth for 30 seconds and then moving to the next section and so forth, it guarantees a full 2-minute brushing!
- Make sure to brush the gum line. This is where a lot of plaque can build up and irritate the gums.
- Don’t forget to brush your tongue! A lot of bacteria build up on your tongue throughout the day. Brushing your tongue also helps to freshen breath.
- Don’t make flossing just an up and down movement between your teeth. Make sure to wiggle the floss up at the gum line to get underneath where the tooth meets the gums. Plaque and debris can get stuck in places where it’s difficult to brush.
Your dentists at Catonsville Dental Care are oral hygiene professionals. When you become a patient at Leikin and Baylin Dental Care, you will immediately become a member of our dental family. Our team of dentists has over fifty years of experience treating the wonderful patients of Catonsville, Ellicott City, Arbutus and other surrounding areas. We are proud to treat patients from ages 3 to 103. If you’re interested in becoming a patient, or have more questions regarding your daily oral care, call us at (410) 717-1115 or visit our website! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!