Many of us are pretty good about visiting our dentist every six months for our semi-annual teeth cleaning and evaluation. While it’s important that your dentist in Catasaqua PA to see you twice each year, it’s also equally important to understand that there are a variety of practices that most of us engage in on a regular basis that are hurting our oral health. When we’re not visiting the dentist, simple every day practices could either hurt or help the state of your gums and teeth. Simple behavior modification could improve your oral health by leaps and bounds.
It may be hard to get into the habit of it, but you should be flossing at least once a day. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from areas your toothbrush just can’t reach. This can improve the health of your gums. The next time you visit your dentist in Catasaqua PA, he or she will be able to tell if you have been flossing regularly or not by the state of your gums when the hygienist flosses your teeth.
You should also be brushing after every meal or at the very least twice a day. If you don’t have the option of brushing your teeth, you can chew sugarless gum to increase saliva production. Increased saliva production in your mouth helps wash out food and acid, helping to prevent tooth decay. Every time you brush your teeth, you need to be cleaning your tongue, too. You can do this with a toothbrush or a tongue scraper. Bacteria settle on your tongue and can lead to halitosis, and regular cleaning of your tongue can help alleviate this. Your dentist in Catasaqua PA will also recommend that you replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb to go by is every three months, but you can also tell if your toothbrush is too old by the appearance of the bristles. Bent and broken bristles is a clear sign that it’s time to replace your toothbrush. They aren’t nearly at effective at cleaning your teeth as new bristles.
Eating a well balanced diet is also essential in maintaining the overall health of your teeth and gums. When you consume sweets on a regular basis, you have an increased amount of acid in your mouth that puts you at a higher risk of developing tooth decay. Snacking on fruits and vegetables is a better option.
