The most important tip to keeping your smile healthy is to practice good dental hygiene on a consistent basis. However, consistency is the key to your routine’s effectiveness, and a lack of it can often mean you’re more likely to miss spots of plaque, or overlook important warning signs that your smile needs professional attention. Today, we take a look at how to ensure you don’t miss anything in your hygiene routine that could come back as bigger problems later, and how paying more attention can help you avoid them.
When you brush and floss your teeth
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once are the cornerstones of any good dental hygiene routine. The goal is to consistently clean your teeth of the harmful oral bacteria that can build up on them, potentially leading to several more serious oral health problems later. However, after doing the same routine over and over every day, it can be easy to become less attentive as you go through the motions. This might make it easier for you to miss some spots of plaque with your toothbrush and floss, and before long, they can calcify (harden) into tartar, also known as calculus.
When you expose your teeth to food and beverages
The things you expose your teeth to when you aren’t brushing and flossing them are the next easiest things to overlook. Unfortunately, they’re another reason why inattentiveness can often lead to more significant oral health concerns than you might’ve expected. The oral bacteria that form plaque and tartar metabolize the nutrients in your food and beverages every time they’re exposed to them. In some cases, the substances they metabolize are directly harmful to your teeth and gums. In addition to consistently keeping your teeth clean, it’s important to be attentive to how often you snack and eat throughout the day. The more frequently bacteria metabolize these substances, the greater a threat they can pose to your oral health.
When your dentist checks your teeth and gums
Your dentist knows the importance of being diligent in both caring for and paying attention to your oral health. That’s why it’s recommended that most people attend a preventive dental checkup and cleaning appointment at least twice every year. The cleaning part of your visit involves carefully removing all traces of plaque that you might have missed, as well as any tartar that has calcified in its place. The checkup includes a thorough examination to ensure that you might not have missed any important signs of a problem that might be developing.
Learn how to optimize your dental hygiene
One of the key aspects of making sure your dental hygiene routine is effective is paying close attention to make sure you don’t miss anything important. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500.
