Your Parksville Invisalign® Provider
Regular Professional Cleanings & Check-ups
Visiting the dentist every six months or so for a checkup and cleaning is an essential part of an effective oral hygiene routine.
Plaque still accumulates and hardens over time, even though daily brushing and flossing at home are an essential part of your teeth's maintenance routine. Regardless of how cautious and thorough you are when brushing and flossing, this is true!
What's great is that your dentist has the tools necessary to clean away that plaque and tartar buildup safely, without damaging your enamel.
Your dentist can also detect and treat developing oral health problems before they become serious. Cavities, gum disease, and even abnormalities like cysts and tumours are often not visible to the untrained eye, so it's critical to get checked by a professional on a regular basis.
With early identification and treatment of oral health problems, you’ll minimize your need for more invasive dental treatments, and keep your mouth healthier, in the long run.
Brushing
The most significant step in your routine is likely brushing. In the morning and at night, for two full minutes each time, you should brush your teeth at least twice per day. An additional session following lunch is advantageous if you can manage it.
Divide your mouth into four sections and spend 30 seconds on each: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. This will ensure that every tooth receives the attention it requires. The chewing surface, back, and front of each tooth should all be thoroughly cleaned.
Flossing
You should floss your teeth at least once a day, preferably right before going to bed. Flossing removes food debris from between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is essential for preventing tooth decay and gum disease, as well as keeping your breath fresh.
It is critical to take your time when flossing. Insert the floss between two of your teeth and carefully run it up and down the sides of each tooth, pulling it into a 'c' shape each time. Work your way along your top jaw, then your bottom jaw, until you've flossed between all of your teeth.
Diet
Eating a healthy diet that’s rich in calcium is also an important part of your oral hygiene routine, as it will help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy from the inside out.
Eat starches and sugars in moderation, and make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Hydration
You can keep a healthy flow of saliva by consuming enough water. Saliva removes food particles and other debris from your teeth, preventing bacteria from growing on them and allowing them to accumulate. In order to avoid cavities and gum disease, one should drink enough water.
Supplementary Hygiene
If you are already brushing and flossing regularly, but want to give your routine a boost, you can try adding some supplementary hygiene aids.
Hygiene aids include things like mouthwash, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators, and tongue cleaners, to name a few.
While these tools cannot replace a thorough brushing and flossing routine, they do make a good addition to it, to help keep your breath fresh and minimize plaque buildup.