In order to maintain a healthy smile over a lifetime, it is crucial that you combine professional dental treatments with a thorough at-home dental hygiene routine. While most people already know that they should be brushing their teeth every day, few dental patients have truly optimized their oral hygiene routines. That’s why our St. Louis dentists are here to help! Keep reading to learn more about things that you can do to get the most out of your daily oral hygiene routine.
Let’s start by talking about brushing; the American Dental Association recommends that patients brush twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed. This routine is appropriate and effective for most people—your dentist will let you know if you need to brush differently.
In order to get the most out of your dental brushing routine, you want to make sure that you’re using the correct tools. Make sure that the toothbrush head is small enough to fit into those hard-to-reach back corners of your smile. Also, talk to your dentist about what type of bristle strength you should be using. You may be surprised to know that soft-bristled toothbrushes are the best bet for most adults—this type of bristle cleans effectively without being too abrasive.
Along with brushing, you want to make sure that you’re flossing your smile every day. In this case, timing really matters. The most effective time to floss your smile is at night directly before you brush your teeth. By flossing at this time, you are able to manually dislodge dental debris and plaque before you promptly brush it away.
Our Saint Louis dentists are here to help you optimize your at-home dental hygiene routine. Please give us a call if you’d like more information, or if you want to schedule a consultation with our team. We are here for you!