Fundamentals of Oral Hygiene

At Advanced Dentistry, our dedicated dentists in Scottsdale, AZ, want you to have the healthiest smile possible. That’s why we provide our patients with educational information that can have lifelong effects.

Maintaining good oral health and hygiene is important in ensuring the longevity of your teeth. We want to make sure that you are practicing the best dental habits at home in-between visits. As you will soon learn, there is a lot more to just brushing and flossing.

Get the Most Out of Brushing

You know it’s important to keep your teeth clean. But did you know that how you brush matters, too? Using the right techniques will help to ensure that you are getting the most out of your daily brushing routine.

Many patients brush their teeth every day. But if you want to make sure that your teeth are staying free of harmful bacteria and debris, you should be brushing twice a day. Be sure that you are spending 2 minutes on your teeth every time that you brush.

It’s not recommended to brush immediately after you eat. Foods that are acidic can cause more bacteria to form on your teeth, leading to plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease.

When you brush, your technique is crucial. Your toothbrush should be angled up toward your roots while employing a circular motion that brushes your teeth back and forth. Be sure not to apply too much pressure, as you could damage the soft tissue of your gums.

Get the Most Out of Flossing

Bacteria love to accumulate in the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth. While brushing is effective in cleaning the outermost areas of your teeth, it can’t get into tight spaces. For that, you need to floss every day.

When flossing, be sure to use plenty of dental floss. A good 18 inches is sufficient for most people, as this gives you enough floss to wind around your middle fingers of each hand. Once in place, use your forefingers and thumbs to grab hold of the floss. Use gentle motions up and down each tooth to work out any food or debris. Be sure to unravel new floss frequently to ensure that you are working with fresh dental floss.

Finish off your brushing and flossing regimen with a fluoride mouthwash. This will help you get the most out of brushing and flossing.