Maintaining an effective daily dental routine is so important to achieving a healthy and attractive smile. Our Saint Louis dentists are here to help our patients build oral hygiene plans that work for them and their smiles. It all starts with choosing the right tools for the job…
Commonly Used Tools
The primary tools in an at-home oral hygiene routine are the toothbrush and floss. Toothbrush bristles are designed to gently buff sticky plaque and bacteria off of dental surfaces. Floss helps you eliminate bacteria and dental debris from those hard-to-reach spots between teeth and along the gum line. These tools work together to clean and refresh your smile.
Size
When you are choosing your oral hygiene tools, take special care to ensure that they are appropriately sized for your mouth. For example, the head of your toothbrush needs to be able to reach your back molars and wisdom tooth area. Floss needs to be thin enough to fit between all of your teeth and into the gum line. If you choose a type of floss that is too bulky, you won’t be able to clear away plaque and dental debris.
Abrasiveness
You can also take steps to protect your smile while you clean it. Minimize the amount of wear and tear to your teeth and gums by reaching for a soft-bristled or gentle toothbrush. Firm bristles can inadvertently cause enamel deterioration and gum tissue recession. Your dental team can help you figure out what kind of bristle is perfect for you—they are there to help!
As you can see there are a number of factors to keep in mind when you are putting together your oral hygiene plan. If you have any questions about this process, or if you’d like to schedule a personal consultation with our Saint Louis dentists, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call!