The Key To Great Oral Health [BLOG]
As your trusted source for oral health care, today we are going to share some secrets about how to maintain a great-looking smile this summer. Keep reading to hear more about it, and then give us a call at 413-241-3995 to schedule your next visit to our East Longmeadow, MA dentist’s office. We are confident that Dr. Dores and the rest of our friendly team can keep you smiling big through all of life’s twists and turns.
Brush Longer Not Harder
Our friends at the ADA ask that each individual brush their teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes at a time. Adding to that great advice, we would say, don’t over do it by brushing too hard. This can actually damage your teeth and gums, which is counterproductive to say the least. You see, plaque, the cavity-causing film you want to remove during brushing, is a soft substance and easily removed. As such, brushing longer is better than brushing harder, because it allows you to get to all the places that need to be cleaned, the ones that can be reached with a toothbrush.
Floss Without Fail
We don’t know what is so scary about dental floss. For some reason patients continue to report that they dread flossing. Still, flossing is an essential step of a person’s daily home hygiene routine. This is because brushing can only clean a portion of the tooth. Another third of the tooth is actually located beneath the gum-line. The only effective way to clean that portion of the tooth is with floss. Flossing every day will reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Trust us, flossing is easier than living without teeth.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Staying hydrated is necessary for maintaining your overall health, and not just during the summertime. Plus, water is great for your smile. When we drink enough water, our mouths are producing more saliva. The water, which does not contain any harmful substances like sugar and has no acidity, will also clean out leftover remnants of food. What’s more, tap water typically contains fluoride, a natural substance that has been shown to reduce the risk of disease and decay and can even restore enamel that has already been damaged.
Call Your East Longmeadow Dentist!
You may have noticed that there is one huge step everyone reading this needs to take: get to the dentist on a regualr basis! Seriously, the best way to boost your oral health this summer and beyond is to visit a qualified dentist every six months at least. This will allow you to keep your teeth and gums in great shape, and it will allow us to know early if anything is going awry with your smile.
To make that happen soon, all you have to do now is call us at 413-241-3995 or fill out our online form to request your next easy appointment with us. You’ll be so glad you did!