Of course you want to know how to keep your smile healthy. It’s what your husband fell in love with, and how your friends describe you to strangers. As your most prized feature, surely you want it to look its best, and you know that begins with great preventive care. But are you actually doing all you can to maintain healthy teeth and gums? Many people think brushing their teeth everyday is all that is necessary to prevent dental problems. Unfortunately that is not the case, which is why so many people end up suffering from issues like dental cavities and gum disease. The good news is that many of the best ways to prevent dental problems are quite simple and easy to implement. Here is what you need to know about great preventive dental care.
Ways to Better Care for Your Smile
- Twice daily brushing has long been considered the dentist-recommended norm, but it is actually a minimum guideline. Most people could benefit from brushing their teeth a third time, after lunch, in order to help eliminate food particles and bacteria that would otherwise remain on the surface of the teeth and gums until late in the evening.
- Flossing is just as important as tooth brushing, yet it is often overlooked. If you’re not sure of the proper technique, there are lots of helpful tutorials and videos online. Your dentist can also demonstrate the appropriate technique at your next dental checkup. Once you have some practice, flossing should be simple, quick, and painless. In fact, if it hurts to floss or if you notice bleeding, you might be using the floss incorrectly, or you could be suffering from gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.
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