Dental Hygiene
DENTAL HYGIENE
The Importance of Good Dental Hygiene
Teeth are essential for biting, chewing, and forming a food bolus for digestion. Maintaining strong, healthy teeth and gums through proper oral care is vital. Poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss, which affect speech, nutrition, confidence, and overall health.
Good dental habits reduce the risk of oral and systemic health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. They also save on costly dental treatments and support a confident, healthy smile. Prioritize your oral health for lifelong benefits.
Dental Professionals are the Best Teachers!
If you want someone to teach you and your children how to properly brush, floss, and take care of your teeth, you should only consult a dental professional. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants are all knowledgeable in this area.
Here at Ace Dental in Roseville, we love giving advice to our patients, especially young kids who are eager to learn and always curious about new things. You can ask us about anything related to oral health and dental hygiene. Our head dentist, Dr. Karanvir Sibia, DDS, and his entire team of dental professionals will be happy to answer all of your questions.
The Best Dental Hygiene Practices
Dr. Sibia recommends the following dental hygiene practices for the best quality of dental health at home.
Brush your teeth properly.
Many people may be unaware that they are brushing incorrectly. You must spend a few seconds removing the plaque and food debris on each tooth, taking a total of 2 minutes or more for the entire brushing period. You should also use a variety of strokes to ensure that all areas are covered. Brush in circles to gently loosen plaque and food particles from the gumline, then pull up in the lower jaw and down in the upper jaw to remove the loosened particles from the tooth. Brush back and forth on top of molars to clean the biting surface of the crowns. Don’t forget to brush the backs of your teeth (tongue side and palatal side) and your tongue!
Brush your teeth regularly.
Even if you do brush properly, if you only brush once a day or even miss an entire day of brushing, you won’t be able to protect your teeth. Plaque builds up continuously throughout the day, often within 30 minutes of brushing.
You need to remove plaque within 12 hours, or else it will harden into tartar (calculus), which cannot be brushed off. Plaque that has accumulated and hardened into tartar is the main culprit of gum disease and tooth decay.
It is recommended to brush at least twice a day, at the very least in the morning and before you go to bed, though three times is ideal. If you eat something sweet or sticky in the middle of the day, it’s best to brush right after. If you can’t brush, then drink some water or chew a sugarless gum to increase saliva production and help keep bacteria away from your teeth until you can brush.
Floss Daily
When people are asked how often they floss, they usually answer “not every day” or “a few times a week”. Daily flossing is an important part of oral care because floss can get into the tight spaces which a toothbrush is unable to reach. Flossing removes any plaque and food debris which have been left behind by brushing.
Some say it’s better to floss before brushing to loosen plaque and food particles to make brushing more effective. It’s not clear whether flossing before brushing is better than brushing before flossing or vice versa. But the important thing is that you floss your teeth every single day so that the plaque on your teeth will not harden.
Give your teeth time to remineralize before brushing.
Acidity can erode the tooth enamel, a process called demineralization. Many kinds of foods can be considered acidic such as caffeinated products, citrus fruits, and alcoholic beverages. However, sometimes, you may not know that the food you’re eating is acidic.
Brushing your teeth while the enamel is still demineralized can increase the chances of tooth decay. To keep your teeth safe, always brush your teeth at least half an hour after eating and make sure you drink plenty of water before brushing. Water neutralizes the acidity, while the time allowance gives your teeth the chance to remineralize before you brush.
Visit Ace Dental in Roseville every six months.
The best quality of oral health can only be achieved when patients and dentists work together. While you do your oral hygiene practices at home, we at Ace Dental in Roseville will keep your oral health in check every six months.
We will closely examine your teeth and gums every time you visit. This enables us to detect any early signs of oral problems and treat them before they can cause significant damage to your oral health.
Excellent Dental Health: Our Topmost Priority
At Ace Dental, we are dedicated to helping all patients achieve optimal oral health. We welcome new patients and encourage existing ones to schedule their regular six-month check-up.
Dr. Karanvir Sibia, DDS, offers thorough dental examinations and personalized hygiene advice. Our office is located at 1070 Pleasant Grove Suite 110, Roseville, CA 95678. We are open weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm and offer Saturday appointments.
Book your appointment online or call us at (916) 772-0111. Let us help you maintain a healthy, confident smile.