Optimal oral health begins at home. At Garibaldi Crossing Dental, we understand the importance of learning the basics of proper dental hygiene. As your dental team, we offer oral hygiene instruction to help and educate patients of all ages on maintaining a good at-home care routine. To prevent dental issues such as cavities and periodontal (gum) disease, here are some simple steps you can take:
1. Floss Once A Day
Flossing is the foundation of healthy gums. Dental floss cleans the areas a toothbrush can’t reach, like between teeth and underneath gums. Therefore, flossing once a day before brushing your teeth will keep your gums and teeth clean and strong.
To floss properly, start with a piece of waxed floss that is approximately 18” long. Lightly wrap the majority of the floss around your middle finger on one hand and the remaining floss around the middle finger of the other hand. Slide the floss between your teeth, wrapping it in a “C” shape around the base of your tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss from the tip of your tooth to the base two to three times using your index fingers and thumbs to help. Remember, each space comes with two teeth surfaces that need to be cleaned.
When you are done, rinse your mouth with water to remove plaque and food particles. If you experience any bleeding or soreness during your first week of flossing, don’t be alarmed. This is common and will fade as your gums adjust to the routine.
2. Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
Brushing your teeth removes plaque, staining, and food particles from the surface of your teeth. We recommend using a soft-bristled manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush.
To brush your teeth, position the bristles towards the gumline. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times, working the bristles away from your gumline. For example, when brushing the top arch, move the bristles in a top-down circular motion and a bottom-to-top circular motion for the bottom arch. Apply light pressure when positioning the bristles between your teeth, ensuring you don’t push too hard and cause discomfort. Use this same motion to brush every surface of your teeth, and don’t forget your molars! Lastly, take your time when brushing. A thorough job should take approximately 2 minutes.
3. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Good nutrition plays a big role in your overall oral health. While brushing and flossing keep your teeth and gums clean and strong, a balanced diet boosts your immunity, making you less prone to oral disease. While you should feel free to treat yourself every once in a while, sticky, sugary foods can be harmful to your oral health. For example, starchy foods such as bread, cookies, crackers, and candy increase bacteria and acid levels in your mouth, which can harm your enamel. Another example to be aware of is acidic foods and drinks, such as wine, coffee, citrus fruits, vinegar-based dressings, and energy drinks, as they can wear away at the enamel. So these should be consumed at a minimum and combined with teeth-healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean proteins.
Another key to optimal oral health is avoiding smoking, vaping, and other tobacco products. While smoking is well-known for causing tooth discolouration and bad breath, it can also impact your gum health. Smoking reduces blood flow to the gums and weakens the immune system, impairing healing and increasing the risk of infection and oral cancer.
Optimal Oral Health Begins at Home
At Garibaldi Crossing Dental, we believe that optimal oral health begins with proper education and instruction in oral hygiene. We aim to empower our patients to take control of their dental health by teaching them easy at-home hygiene routines. With our personalized approach to oral hygiene, we strive to help our patients achieve and maintain strong, healthy smiles for life.
