Knowing the Drill When It Comes to Dental Care

Please note: this is a contributed post.

When you think about your teeth, you generally think about their overall appearance. We all want that perfect Hollywood smile; straight, perfectly aligned teeth with a bright white coloring and a nice shine. This is understandable, after all, your smile is one of the first things that people will notice.

Your smile can have a huge impact on your overall appearance and the way that people perceive you in general. But it’s also important to remember that you need to prioritize the overall health and condition of your teeth. This is because, once your adult teeth come through, you only have one set to last the rest of your life. Not only are your teeth essential when it comes to being able to eat food properly, but as soon as you start experiencing dental pain, you won’t be able to focus on much else.

So, to help you along the way, here’s everything you need to know about routine dental care and maintenance.

Cleaning Your Teeth

First things first – you need to make sure that you’re cleaning your teeth properly. Sure, this is a skill that we all tend to pick up when we are relatively young, but not all of us are doing a thorough enough job to keep plaque and decay at bay. You should clean your teeth twice a day, every day. This should be a good two-minute job each time you brush your teeth.

Use a recommended toothpaste with fluoride, and if possible, invest in an electric toothbrush rather than a manual toothbrush. It is possible to clear all the plaque from your teeth with a manual brush, but it’s much easier to do a good job with an electric toothbrush that does most of the work on your behalf.

Then, floss between your teeth and use interdental brushes between the molars, or between any teeth that are extra tight. These speciality brushes will help you to get rid of any extra plaque hiding between the surface of your teeth. Finally, rinse with a fluoride mouthwash. As well as giving you fresh breath, mouthwash helps get rid of bacteria from your gums, tongue, inner cheeks, and the roof of your mouth.

Visiting the Dentist

You should visit your dentist on a regular basis – twice a year is the usual recommendation. Sure, once a year is the given figure when it comes to checkups, but once every six months is actually ideal. This will give your dentist the opportunity to spot any warning signs of decay and to deal with problems sooner than later, booking you for treatments such as fillings, root canals, or wisdom tooth extractions before problems develop and worsen.

Visiting the Hygienist

Book an appointment with your dental hygienist twice a year too. Unlike dentists, hygienists solely focus on the cleanliness of your teeth, mouth and gums. They scrape away any tartar or excessive plaque build up, and then polish, leaving your teeth sparkling clean.

As you can see, a good dental care regime consists of regular work on your part and occasional visits to the professionals. It’s relatively simple to incorporate regular dental care into your routine, so there aren’t any excuses to fall behind and neglect your pearly whites!