Our Saint Louis dentists help dental patients of all ages get the professional care that they need, and perfect their at-home oral hygiene routines. The American Dental Association has a number of recommendations for dental patients, regarding how to best care for their smiles, and our Saint Louis dentists are here to help you understand how to best implement these guidelines in your own life.
Let’s start by talking about how you can effectively care for your smile at home. You have the chance, every day, to limit the amount of bacterial plaque and tartar that is able to attack your healthy oral tissues.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss your teeth at least once a day in order to get the most benefit. And keep in mind that it matters when you brush and floss. You want to brush your teeth in the morning and in the evening before bed. And, the best time to floss your teeth is at night right before you brush; this allows you to disrupt accumulated plaque before your brush it away.
Another important component of your oral hygiene routine is the professional cleaning. The American Dental Association’s general recommendation is that dental patients come in for cleanings two times a year, at about six month intervals. Your dentist will let you know if you need to complete professional cleanings more frequently—this is sometimes the case with patients who are suffering from diabetes, or patients who are fighting chronic gum disease and oral infections.
The American Dental Association gives these basic recommendations so that you and your dental team can then build off of them and perfect your oral hygiene protocol. Ready to get started optimizing your smile? Call our team to touch base and learn more? Our Saint Louis dentists are here for you!