Do I Need To Brush More Often?

In dentistry, the general rule is that adults should brush and floss twice a day. If you are suffering from either tooth decay or gum disease, you may wonder if you need to change your dental hygiene routine. Here are some guidelines to follow if you want to change your oral cleaning routine.

Change Your Toothbrush

Sometimes, to improve your oral hygiene routine, you just need to change your toothbrush. Be sure if you use a manual toothbrush that the bristles are soft. Hard bristles can damage your gums and can even scrape away tooth enamel. Soft bristles can rid your teeth of plaque while keeping your teeth and gums healthy. You may want to opt for an automatic toothbrush, which may do a better job of cleaning your teeth than you can do manually. You may also want to increase the number of times you brush your teeth from twice a day to after every meal or snack. If you can expand your brushing habits to include brushing after each meal, you limit the amount of bacteria in your mouth, which lowers the likelihood you will get tooth decay or gum disease.

Try a Flosser

Many adults do not like to floss their teeth, but it is necessary to maintain your dental health. If you are not fond of string floss, try another flossing method. Portable flossers have a handle that allows you to reach farther into your mouth to floss more accurately. Flossers are a great way to make sure you continue to floss daily. If you are worried about your teeth and gums, you need to floss more often. You should floss after every meal or snack. If you need more tips to maintain your dental health, why not make an appointment to see our dental practitioner? They can assess your oral hygiene and may be able to pinpoint what the problem is. We are more than happy to give you tips to improve your dental health.