Do you have an oral hygiene routine? Many patients know that brushing and flossing the teeth are important, but they don’t know all the oral hygiene guidelines they should be following. This is just one reason so many patients have tooth decay and gum disease. Find out what a great oral hygiene routine looks like and how you can keep your teeth intact and healthy throughout life!

Preventive Care with Oral Hygiene Habits

When it comes to brushing and flossing your teeth, how long and with what frequency should you perform these actions? Consider the following directions for your daily oral hygiene routine:

Brushing Your Teeth

• Strive to brush at least twice a day
• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, spending about (30 seconds) in each quadrant of your mouth
• Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle pointed towards the gums
• Brush all the surfaces of your teeth (the sides and the chewing surface on top)

Flossing Your Teeth

• Floss your teeth once a day
• Make sure to floss the teeth at the back of your mouth too
• Use 18 in of floss—wrap each end around your fingers and gently lower it in between your teeth
• Follow the curve of your teeth to avoid damaging your gums
• Repeat this for every tooth, as you move to the next tooth take the dirty floss with one finger and unwind the clean floss from the other finger
• The ADA provides the following diagram/instructions for flossing that you can refer to

Use Mouthwash

• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash after you brush and floss your teeth
• Take in a small amount of mouthwash, then swish for 30-40 seconds, making sure your lips are tightly closed. Do not swallow.
• Spit it out

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Tongue

• Using a toothbrush, deposit a small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush and then brush your tongue in rotating motions. Rinse your mouth.
• Consider using a tongue scraper or specific tongue cleanser.

Additional Oral Hygiene Tips

• Strive to eat a healthy balanced diet
• Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth
• Schedule regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist
• Examine your mouth during your oral hygiene routine to make sure there are no abnormalities that could signal oral cancer

Your Unique Oral Health Needs

Every patient we see has different needs to support their best oral health needs. Through an examination with Dr. Berry, you can ascertain if there are things you should be doing regularly beyond what has been discussed in this article.  Patients that suffer from periodontal disease, dry mouth, bad breath, oral lesions, or that have implants or dentures may require a different daily oral hygiene routine.

Make the Effort to Keep Your Mouth and Body Healthy

“A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years. The phrase “healthy mouth, healthy you” really is true — and backed by growing scientific evidence,” reports WebMD.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop. In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.

Call Dr. Berry Today for an Oral Hygiene Routine Consultation

Dr. Berry is highly skilled and trained to provide a variety of dental services. Our office is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure you receive the best possible care.  Our office is located in Broomfield, Colorado, with convenient access to the communities of Thornton, Broomfield, Northglenn and Westminster.  Mountain Aire Dentistry offers state-of-the-art family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.