The effort you put into brushing your teeth can make a big difference to the quality of your oral health. If you are “occasionally” forgetting to brush, or if you “sometimes” rush yourself while cleaning your teeth, you are more likely to develop problems with tooth decay, or experience gum disease! Unfortunately, people sometimes fail to recognize when they have started to engage in bad habits. In order to properly protect yourself, you should take time to consider how thorough you are when you take care of your smile. If you have questions about better brushing, or if you are interested in tips on improving your smile care, we can help you when you visit our Seattle, WA dental office for routine dental care!
The Importance Of Thorough And Consistent Brushing
Proper brushing is not difficult, but it is important to be consistent about taking care of your teeth. When you rush through daily oral care, or when you skip brushing and flossing sessions, you can allow plaque to form, and eventually harden to tartar. You may be surprised at how easy it is for cavities and gingivitis to become problems for you when your brushing standard starts to slip. Unfortunately, people sometimes fail to recognize that they need to make improvements until they learn that they require restorative dental care!
Common Brushing Mistakes You Should Avoid
If you recognize your bad habits, it can be easier to make positive changes! On a daily basis, you should brush at least two times, and each session should see you spend two minutes cleaning every area of your smile. Hopefully, you are already meeting this standard on a consistent basis. If you are not, you may be allowing bacteria more opportunities to damage your teeth. There are other mistakes you should know about, and avoid.
- Brushing with too much force will not remove tartar, and will not give you a “better” clean. If you continue to brush aggressively, you can actually start to wear down your enamel!
- Make sure you are replacing your toothbrush every three months, or whenever the bristles are starting to show signs of wear and tear.
- Pay attention to the toothpaste you are using – if your preferred brand lacks an ADA seal of approval, it is time to make a switch!
- Clean every area of every tooth, and make sure your are brushing at your gum line to effectively protect yourself against gingivitis.
Receiving Feedback From Your Smile During A Routine Dental Exam
Every routine dental exam is an opportunity to learn how your smile is doing, and determine if you should make improvements to your brushing and flossing routine. These visits are also important because you receive a professional cleaning, which takes care of tartar deposits and other harmful agents on teeth, as well as an evaluation that can identify problems that might require professional services.
Talk To Ballard Neighborhood Dentist About Improving Your Brushing Habits!
At Ballard Neighborhood Dentist, patients in and around Seattle, WA are able to enjoy important oral health services! We can help you preserve the health of your smile, and we are ready to assist you if you need treatment for a smile issue. To find out more, please call Ballard Neighborhood Dentist today at 206-789-2555.
