To keep your dazzling smile in tip-top condition, it is crucial that you keep up good oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing regularly and properly.
Good oral health goes far beyond keeping your smile attractive, however, as good oral care can also head off future medical problems, including bone loss, infections, heart disease, strokes, early birth, and more.
To help you, Alex Bratic Dental Care would like to share the following tips to help you develop good life-long oral care habits.
While most of us have brushed our own teeth for decades, many of us are still not quite perfect at effectively and adequately brushing our teeth. Proper brushing should be gentle to avoid gum damage.
When brushing, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, to be sure that both the tooth surfaces and gum lines are being thoroughly brushed. Use an up-and-down and back-and-forth motion for a complete clean. Be sure to reach all surfaces on your teeth, including the back molars and the insides of your teeth to be certain your whole mouth is cleaned.
Also, don’t forget to brush your tongue. Brushing should take place at least twice a day. If brushing is difficult for reasons of mobility or flexibility, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush which can help with both cleaning and timing!
Too many of us remember to floss only when we have something stuck between our teeth. Flossing, however, can remove food particles and plaque buildup that your toothbrush can’t reach, removing smaller particles and helping prevent the build-up of plaque between the teeth, potentially preventing tartar build-up and cavities, while keeping the gums healthy.
Worn toothbrushes aren’t as effective as new ones. So if your toothbrush is showing signs of wear and tear (splayed, flattened bristles), be sure to replace it immediately. Normally, you should do this every two or three months. Also, if you have recently been ill, be sure to replace your toothbrush to avoid reinfecting yourself.
Sugary, carbonated and acidic beverages can lower pH levels in the mouth, which can lead to damage to tooth enamel as time passes. Minimise consumption of soft drinks and mixed drinks, and hydrate with plain water instead. If you must drink sugary or acidic drinks, use a straw and rinse your mouth out afterwards.
Smoking, or any kind of tobacco use, is extremely harmful to the overall health of the mouth, including teeth and gums. To lower your risk of gum disease, Alex Bratic Dental recommends that you quit smoking and using other tobaccos products.
Water helps neutralise acidity after meals, protects your teeth, and keeps your mouth healthy. Chewing gum can have similar effects to stimulate the flow of saliva, which can be effective in maintaining a healthy mouth.
If you begin to feel sensitivity in the gums, teeth, soft tissues, or you damage a tooth between visits, don’t wait until your checkup to deal with it. Early, effective treatment helps you get on top of a problem before it becomes a significant issue – a small filling is a much less expensive solution than a tooth extraction.
Trauma or accidents can cause teeth to fracture and even be lost. This is why it is imperative to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth while playing sports. If possible, don’t forget to wear a helmet as a helmet protects the head surrounding your oral cavity against impacts that may occur during games.
Regular dental check-ups and dental exams at Alex Bratic Dental Care help to catch dental problems at an early stage, which plays a crucial role in the prognosis of oral diseases. For example, dental cavities initially require a filling.
However, unchecked cavities can lead to root canal treatment or the need for extraction. Thus, it pays to stay up on your regular check-ups and dental hygiene, negligence when it comes to your teeth, can cost a lot!
If you have any further questions or want to schedule your appointment at Alex Bratic Dental Care, please contact us today!
Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh delivers the very best in dental services to patients of all ages. If you, your child, or a family member needs a smile fix or just a checkup, we’re here for you!
Alex Bratic Dental Care is located on City Road near the Pacific Motorway near Beenleigh Station, with convenient public transport nearby and free onsite parking.
Call (07) 3287 2627 or visit us at 113 City Road in Beenleigh.