The 3 Most Important Steps in Caring for Your Teeth Between Visits to the Dentist

At California Dental Group it is essential that our patients understand that the best thing they can do for their oral health is to visit their dentist twice a year for a thorough cleaning and dental exam. However, that is not all that you can do. There are also steps to take between visits that can help ensure your oral health is as good as possible. Keep reading to learn the three most important steps and then contact us at (800) 407-0161 if you need to make an appointment.

1. Brush your teeth regularly and correctly

Most people have been told since they were children that they should brush their teeth twice a day. This is important but simply brushing may not be enough if you are not brushing correctly. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes. If you do not brush long enough, try setting a timer and making a game of it. You can also purchase a special toothbrush with a built-in speaker that plays a song for two minutes. Once the song is over, you can stop brushing.

In addition to the amount of time you are brushing, you should brushing in circles – not up and down. Though many people assume that brushing harder means brushing deeper, the truth is that if you brush too hard you can harm your gums. Use a medium or soft toothbrush with moderate pressure for the best results.

1. Floss your teeth daily

If you interviewed everyone you knew, you would likely find that most of them wish that they flossed more often. One of the main issues is that people do not make it a part of their routine. For example, they wake up and brush when they are getting ready for their day, and they brush when they are getting ready for bed. Those happen almost automatically because they are so engrained in their routine. Make a point of flossing every day at the same time for a month and you will have officially created a habit that will be easier to follow.

If you do not floss regularly then you will be allowing plaque to build up between your teeth and long your gums. This can cause irritation and over time it can lead to tartar. When tartar builds up, it can only be removed by a dental professional.

1. Improve your diet

What you eat impacts the health of your teeth – it is that simple. If you eat foods that are high in sugar then you are giving bacteria in your mouth plenty to eat. If you eat foods that are high in acid, then you are risking breaking down the enamel on your teeth. If you are going to eat foods that can potentially damage your teeth, wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth. This allows your saliva to wash away harmful chemicals you do not want to brush into your teeth.