How much time do you dedicate to caring for your smile on a typical day? It is important to think about your oral care routine in terms of how often you clean your teeth by brushing and flossing, but it is also important to think about how thorough these sessions tend to be. If you rush through brushing your teeth, or if you are not giving yourself enough time to reach every part of every tooth, you may be more vulnerable to problems that demand restorative dental work than you realize! Our Virginia Beach, VA dentist’s office offers preventive dental services on an ongoing basis, and treatment options for problems that arise. What you do in between checkups can have a big impact on your relative risk for smile problems. Brushing for at least two minutes during each session is one of many measures that can help you protect yourself from oral health problems.
Proper Brushing Is Important For Your Long-Term Dental Health
It is hard to keep your smile safe if you have picked up poor brushing habits. If you are not putting enough time and effort into removing bacteria and food debris that you can pick up in the course of a day, you can be susceptible to tartar formation, which can lead to cavities as well as gum disease. By spending at least two minutes on brushing your teeth, you can do a better job cleaning every area of your smile, including those spaces that can be easy to overlook.
What Else Should You Do To Make Sure Your Brushing Routine Is Effective?
Brushing for at least two minutes is important, as it ensures you are spending enough time to give all the right spaces the appropriate attention. As important as this is, it is not the only measure that you should follow if you want to make the most of your brushing routine. The following practices can help you do an effective job keeping your smile in good shape:
- Swap out a toothbrush that you have had for more than three months, or one with bristles that appear worn down
- Verify that the toothpaste you are using has been ADA-approved
- Brush thoroughly, but not forcefully – aggressive brushing can wear down your enamel
Remember To Take Care Of Your Gums When You Brush
Brushing does more than just help you avoid tooth decay. If you do a good job cleaning your teeth, you can remove bacteria that threaten to infect your periodontal tissues. Poor periodontal health can lead to tooth loss, and it can lead to the spread of bacteria through your bloodstream, which can create more health problems. Passing your brush over your gum line and cleaning between your teeth by flossing can protect you from this problem.
Discuss Your Oral Health Concerns With Your Virginia Beach, VA Dentist
Our Virginia Beach, VA dentist’s office is prepared to help patients when they experience oral health problems. For more information about our services, please call Absolute Dental Care at (757) 428-7440.
