Dentists and After Visit Care
After visiting your dentist, your teeth will feel clean, smooth, and fresh. Often it only takes one meal after your visit to lose that feeling. While most dentists will give you dental care instructions after your visit, you may forget about the hassle of leaving the office, picking up your free toothbrush, and paying your bill. This guide will help you properly care for your teeth from one dental visit to the next.
brushed
Brushing is recommended by all dentists and most people already have a brushing routine that they follow. With that said, you can modify your routine to make it healthier for your teeth. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride on a soft-bristled brush. Use a 45 degree angle near the gum line, brushing in a curricular motion. Do not press hard, as this can damage the enamel and gums. Clean both sides and the bottom or top of each tooth. Brush at least twice a day, but after each meal is even better.
flossing
Many dentists have said, “You don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.” Unfortunately, most people “forget” to floss regularly, even if they are religious about brushing their teeth daily or twice a day. Flossing is important because it gets to places a toothbrush can’t to remove food particles and plaque. Floss once a day and use only a small amount of pressure so you don’t injure your gums while flossing. If you find floss difficult to maneuver, invest in some small floss picks, which you can more easily insert between your teeth. Don’t forget to floss behind the back teeth.
Diet
You may not realize that most dentists have dietary recommendations for their patients. Some foods are harder on teeth than others. Foods that contain sugars and starches, for example, put a lot of acid in your mouth, which will damage your teeth. Foods like hard candies that stay in the mouth for a long time are particularly dangerous, especially since most people don’t brush their teeth after eating them.
Avoid dried fruit, starchy foods like breadsticks, chips and crackers, sugary gum, cakes, pies, cookies or candy. If you eat these foods, brush your teeth afterwards to remove the acid and sugar. High-acid drinks, such as soda, also cause similar problems.
Routine dental visits
Dentists recommend visiting once every six months. Respect this schedule to maintain oral health. The dentist will be able to remove particles, plaque, and tartar from your teeth that you cannot remove on your own. Do not wait until you have a problem to visit, but make an extra visit if you have toothache, mouth pain, or bleeding or swollen gums. Remember that routine dental visits are an inexpensive way to stop problems before they start or to publicize potential problems before they become serious and costly to fix.
