October is national dental hygiene month, so it’s a good time of year to re-think our routines and make sure that we are all doing as much as we can to give our mouths a healthy smile. Good oral health is about more than protection against cavities; it’s an important aspect of your general health.
Allow Palm Beach Orthodontics to guide you through some oral hygiene best practices, from day-to-day routines to professional check-ups. By the end, you’ll understand the best practices for oral care to maintain your healthiest smile.
Learn Basics of Oral Health: Brushing, Flossing, Rinsing
The foundation of a good oral routine is three simple activities: brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste to rid yourself of plaque and food. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes and brush all of your tooth surfaces. Floss once daily, as it is absolutely needed to clean between and below your gum line, where a toothbrush will have limited access.
As a top-off to your routine, an antimicrobial mouthwash will kill bacteria and make your breath smell its best. For those considering orthodontic care, seek a nearby invisible dental aligner dentist like Dr Angela and the team for modern, discreet solutions.
Advanced Methods: Interdental Brushes and Water Flossers
For those wanting to give their cleaning routine a boost, higher-tech tools can make a real difference. Water flossers, or oral irrigators, employ a jet of pressurized water to dislodge plaque and debris from between teeth and just below the gum line. They are especially good for users of braces, bridges, or dental implants.
Interdental brushes are another good option. Tiny brushes that can look like tiny hair combs are intended to be used to clean between the teeth, and they come in a range of sizes to suit minute gaps. Adding these tools to your arsenal can give you a deeper clean than is possible with traditional methods alone.
Dietary Advice: Foods to Enjoy and Avoid
What you put into your body has a direct effect on your oral health. Refined foods and beverages facilitate dental cavities by nourishing the harmful bacteria in your oral tract. It’s best to reduce your consumption of candies and sodas, as well as starchy snacks. Opt to adopt a diet of fruits, vegetables, and dairy instead.
Raw vegetables such as carrots and apples will naturally wash away your dental plaque, while dairy such as yogurt and cheese will make your tooth enamel harder. Staying hydrated all day by drinking a lot of water will wash away trapped foods as well as cancel out detrimental acids.
Remember, October’s dental hygiene month is a great time to set healthy dietary goals.
Routine Dental Check-Up: What to Expect
However strict your in-home routine is, visits to Dr Angela and the team at Palm Beach Orthodontics are an absolute requirement. Visits to us twice a year allow you to have a professional cleaning that will rid you of hardened plaque, or tartar, that you cannot break down yourself.
When you visit, we’ll also provide you with a thorough examination to see if you have indications of cavities, gum disease, and other oral issues. Regular visits are key to discovering issues before they develop into something larger and more costly later down the road.
Is October dental hygiene month? Absolutely, and it’s the perfect time to book your next appointment.
Welcome to a Lifetime of Healthy Smiles
October is a useful reminder to put oral health right near the top of your list of priorities, but these routines should be part of your year-round routine. Adding proper daily maintenance to a nutritious diet and regular visits to Palm Beach Orthodontics allows you to have a healthy smile all your life.
If it has been a while since you have been to an appointment, use this month as a good excuse to book up. You make a good investment in your long-term health by taking proactive steps now!