Good oral hygiene is the cornerstone of a healthy mouth. Most problems in your oral health do not present themselves until they are advanced, which makes prevention important. Preventing a problem before it arises is the best way to keep your smile looking, feeling, and acting its best. There are two key components of prevention for your mouth: maintaining a strong oral hygiene routine and keeping routine visits to your dentist. Strong oral hygiene keeps harmful bacteria from lingering in your mouth and attacking your smile. You may be doing a stellar job with your oral hygiene, but there are always ways to up your game.
Consistency and Timing
It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss at least once. The most crucial time for you to stick to your routine is before you go to sleep. A sleeping mouth is a haven for harmful bacteria to thrive and multiply. Because your mouth naturally dries out when you sleep (your body’s way of preventing you from choking on saliva), the bacteria is allowed to stay in your mouth without fear that it will be rinsed away with bacteria. By brushing and flossing before you go to bed, you are ensuring that any leftover debris or bacteria from the day are not left in your mouth while you are sleeping. This makes it important that a toothbrush, floss, or water is the last thing in your mouth. If you succumb to a late night snack or if you need to take cough syrup, make sure to rinse it out of your mouth before going to sleep.
Location Location Location
The most common areas that are missed during oral hygiene routines are the surfaces of the teeth that face the tongue, the areas between the teeth, and the tongue itself. Missing these areas consistently leads to a buildup of bacteria, which can lead to attacks on the teeth. Be sure to be mindful of these spots during your hygiene routine.
Strong oral hygiene protects your smile
Dr. Carmona wants to help you up your smile’s health. To schedule a consultation at Austin Prosthodontics, call 512-250-9444. We also proudly welcome patients from Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, and all surrounding Texas communities.
