Although beginning any new period of time or season seems like a good opportunity to make resolutions to do something better, the start of a new year is a perfect time. Especially when your goal is a positive one that can allow you to reap many benefits. And it’s easy to do – five minutes a day plus about one hour twice a year is all that’s needed to complete daily oral maintenance and visit your dentist for cleaning and dental exam.
Daily Dental Requirements
Teeth brushing – You should brush a minimum of two minutes at least twice a day. Two minutes can be deceiving so maybe you could brush while playing a favorite song or invest in an electric toothbrush – most come with a timer that signals you when you’ve brushed for two minutes.
Use a fluoridated toothpaste to help protect your teeth from decay.
If you experience sensitivity, there are numerous products available to help alleviate this discomfort. Brushing regularly will help with that zinging sensation.
Floss daily – Your toothbrush only reaches about ⅔ of the surface of your teeth. The area between teeth can be cleaned using one of the many flossing products readily available. Floss at least once every day to remove food debris your toothbrush can’t reach.
Visit Your Dentist
A thorough cleaning and dental exam are usually completed in an hour or less. Not only do your teeth look great, but they will feel wonderful as well.
Regular dental check-ups can catch problems before they have a chance to escalate, possibly saving you hours of additional treatment time.
When you have your teeth cleaned, harmful plaque that has formed since your last cleaning is removed. When plaque is allowed to remain on teeth, you risk developing gum disease. Early symptoms of gingivitis include bleeding gums and/or chronic bad breath. Without intervention, your condition could worsen possibly resulting in tooth loss.
During the dental exam, your dentist is looking for a number of things … decay, the effects of teeth grinding and jaw clenching, signs of oral cancer, and any number of abnormalities that could impact not only your oral health, but your overall health as well.
The beginning of a new year is a great opportunity get started on this important resolution to care for your oral health. Contact our team at Tate Family Dentistry to schedule your visit.