Reasons To Make An Oral Hygiene Routine A Priority
At Vargas Dental Associates, we stress the importance of doing everything possible to prevent decay and other oral health complications. We know that most adults know they should be brushing and flossing their teeth daily, but we also know not everyone is properly following an oral hygiene routine as they should.
Why is Good Oral Hygiene Important?
Most of our patients only visit our office twice a year for a hygiene examination. That leaves 363 days of the year that you are left to properly care for and clean your teeth. If you are not properly cleaning your teeth daily, you can have serious complications such as tooth decay and gum disease. Both of these conditions can leave lasting effects for years to come. We want to share some helpful tips to ensure you are properly cleaning your teeth and gums:
- Set a timer to ensure you are brushing for a full two minutes
- Make sure to brush the front, back and top of teeth — don’t forget your tongue and along the gumline
- Be sure to use dental floss daily
- Floss your teeth in the shape of a “c” to be sure you are getting under the gums
If you are unsure of how to properly brush or floss your teeth, we can give a demonstration the next time you are in the office. We can also recommend an electric toothbrush, manual toothbrush, and toothpaste.
What Happens When You Don’t Have a Good Routine?
You would be surprised how quickly your oral health can decline if you are not cleaning your teeth properly. It will be even faster if you are a frequent snacker or like to eat sugary foods and drink liquids with high sugar content. Unfortunately, not caring for your teeth properly will lead to cavities and gum disease. In fact, one of the most common causes of gum disease is lack of oral hygiene.
If it has been some time since your last hygiene examination and cleaning, we recommend calling our office located in Bowie, MD to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon and hope you have a wonderful summer.
