If asked to explain what good dental hygiene means, most people would correctly answer brushing and flossing their teeth every day. However, despite knowing the basics of good dental hygiene, many people don’t really practice it as much or as often as they believe. Unfortunately, many common dental concerns develop because people’s hygiene routines aren’t consistently adequate. So, today, we help you determine if your hygiene routine is good enough by examining some of the most important aspects of it.
Is it a top priority every day?
The thing about dental hygiene is that consistency matters more than you might think. You can’t skip one day of brushing and flossing your teeth, then make up for it by brushing and flossing extra the next day. That’s because the plaque that builds up on your teeth, which is a product of oral bacteria, can quickly calcify into tartar. Also known as calculus, tartar can’t be brushed and flossed away once it hardens, no matter how hard or often you brush it. Because of this, prioritizing your hygiene routine every day, without fail, is essential to it being as effective as it’s meant to be.
Are your hygiene tools effective?
Consistency may be essential to your hygiene routine, but it’s only beneficial if you successfully clean your teeth every time you attempt to. This requires the use of the right tools, including the right type of toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss. For example, many people benefit most from a toothbrush with milder or softer bristles, and toothpaste that contains fluoride to boost the strength of their tooth enamel. You might also benefit from a mouthwash or rinse that’s made specifically to fight oral bacteria, helping you reduce your risks of tooth decay and gum disease.
Do you put your teeth risk in other ways?
Cleaning your teeth is important to keeping them healthy, but consistently good hygiene should also take other risks to your oral health into consideration, as well. While conditions like tooth decay and gum disease may be mostly products of oral bacteria, other chronic concerns like grinding your teeth or exposing them to too much sugar and acids can also place them at significant risk. Be cautious of how you treat your teeth throughout the day, such as limiting how often you eat or drink sugary substances and taking steps to address your teeth-grinding habit, if necessary.
Find out if your hygiene is good enough
Most people believe that they practice good hygiene, but many of them are mistaken for several different reasons. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Creekside Family Dental Care in Columbia, TN, today at (931) 388–3384.