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Why do you need to visit your general dentist in Issaquah? Everyone knows that a typical oral care routine consists of three steps – brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. Despite following these three easy steps, why is it that more and more people are complaining of tooth decay and gum inflammation? Where did they go wrong?
There are countless possibilities why their teeth and gums got damaged. It could be because they were using the wrong brushing techniques, brushed too hard, brushed too often, flossed the wrong way, and so much more.
Besides checking your mouth for signs of abnormalities, dentists are also good educators, and they can teach you about proper oral hygiene practices and tips that are guaranteed to give you a healthy mouth.
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Brushing is only effective if you use the proper technique. Otherwise, you won’t be able to clean your teeth thoroughly. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, angle it at 45 degrees directed toward your gum line.
The acceptable brushing time is approximately two minutes, but don't just concentrate in one area. Divide the two minutes into 30 seconds for each quadrant. Brushing should be done gently because if you brush too hard, you will prematurely erode your enamel.
How often do you floss your teeth? Ideally, flossing should be done once daily. One of the mistakes people make is they only floss their front teeth and forget about the back. If you do this, your back teeth will become prone to plaque and tartar buildup.
Take some floss and wrap it carefully around your fingers. Slowly and gently lower it into your teeth and follow the curve of each tooth. Do this for every tooth, but make sure you unwind the floss as you go. You don’t want to move food debris from one tooth to the next.
Does your morning routine involve drinking a cup of hot coffee or a cold glass of fresh orange juice? If yes, don’t brush right away. Acidic food and drinks will soften your enamel transiently. So if you brush right after drinking, you might accidentally remove some of your enamel.
This will increase your risk of developing tooth decay in the future. To protect your teeth, we suggest you wait 30 minutes to an hour before you start brushing after you drink coffee, soda, or any citric fruit juices.
You got the technique right, but are you using the right toothbrush? If you’re using a hard-bristled toothbrush, you can compromise the strength and integrity of your teeth as it causes enamel erosion.
Your dentist will encourage you to get a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also, you should replace your toothbrush every three months.
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Brushing and flossing are not always enough to keep your mouth in excellent shape. At Apex Dental Care, we offer affordable dental care services that will improve your oral health. Call us today to learn more about our services or if you wish to book an appointment.
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