Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Good oral hygiene is paramount to a healthy smile, and your overall health. Poor oral health may increase your risk of several chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, insulin resistance and dementia. Why does this occur? Because oral bacteria can lead to systemic inflammation, a chronic stressor on the immune system. While you should not neglect other factors like healthy eating, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, following a simple daily oral hygiene regimen can help keep your health on track and keep your teeth in good shape, too. Read on as, today on the blog, our Scotts Valley family dentists share four oral hygiene habits you shouldn’t skip.
Brush your teeth twice a day – correctly
Most people brush their teeth at least once a day, although twice a day is recommended. But you might not be brushing your teeth long enough. Cleaning your teeth isn’t about how hard you brush – scrubbing too hard or using a hard-bristled brush actually can damage your mouth. How long you spend brushing matters. Brush for at least two minutes to ensure you’ve spent enough time to thoroughly remove bacteria and plaque buildup. Be sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth, including all sides and the chewing surface of every tooth, and don’t forget your tongue.
Floss every night before bed
Flossing is the method to clean between your teeth where your brush can’t reach. It helps reduce bad breath and lowers your risk of gum disease and cavities from developing in these areas by removing food residue and bacteria. Everyone should floss, ideally before bed. If dexterity issues prevent you from flossing your back teeth, consider using floss sticks or a water flosser. And if it’s been a while since you last flossed, don’t be alarmed if your gums bleed a little and feel swollen. The more often you floss, the healthier your gums will be.
Rinse with a prebiotic mouth rinse
New studies show that traditional mouth rinses disrupt the oral microbiome and aren’t as good as we once thought. Therefore, opt for a prebiotic mouth rinse instead to help reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease. A prebiotic mouth rinse inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria but does so specifically in the mouth. Not sure which product to choose? Dr. Arianna Ebrahimian can help recommend one for adults and children.
See your Scotts Valley dentist twice a year
Twice-yearly dental visits include a thorough dental exam and cleaning to remove tartar buildup that could lead to cavities, gingivitis, or gum infections that lead to tooth loss. A good daily oral hygiene regimen helps reduce tartar buildup, although everyone gets some amount of buildup that must be removed by a dental cleaning. We recommend that children begin routine dental visits by their first birthday or whenever their first baby tooth erupts from the gum line – whichever happens first. These visits help acclimate children to thedentist and help them develop a healthy life-long perception of dental care.
Family Dentists in Scotts Valley, Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, California
Good oral health is like a recipe. It requires precise amounts of specific ingredients to achieve the results you desire. You can’t expect to have healthy, pearly white teeth by leaving out an ingredient. If you’re ready to schedule your next visit or would like to learn more about promoting good oral health, call (831) 438-4411 today or visit our website.
