Having a Perfect Smile Often Begins at Home
There are so many amazing restorative and cosmetic dental procedures that are available in today’s modern dentistry to help improve the smiles of patients of all ages.
Some of the most popular treatments from a dentist near you run the full range from a cosmetic professional tooth whitening from a Delta dentist to full mouth restoration from a dentist in Delta, BC.
But what about the basics of oral health that you can incorporate at home?
Without those practices being a part of your fundamental at-home health care, patients may be visiting a dentist in Delta for more than cosmetic or restorative dental work – they may find themselves in need of often-invasive surgery for periodontal and gum disease.
If you want to avoid taking the risk of that happening, maybe it’s time to take a refresher course in what you can do at home to preserve your smile for years to come.
Let’s Start with the Basics
We’ve all been told to brush our teeth twice a day and to floss at least once a day. But what many people don’t realize is that the amount of time you spend brushing your teeth is as important as the number of times per day that you do it.
It’s recommended by all dental professionals, and their respective professional associations, that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day.
A Solution to Keep You on Track
If you’re spending less than two minutes each time, making the correction should be a simple one. If, however, you are still finding it difficult to stick to the two-minute timeframe, many patients have found it easier to use an electric toothbrush that has a controlled built-in timer.
When you use an electric toothbrush, you’ll not only benefit from the assurance that you’re brushing for the recommended length of time, but you’re guaranteed to have a healthier mouth in the process since studies show that more plaque and bacteria will also be removed than when using the manual version.
The Cost of the Electric Toothbrush is Offset by the Savings in Periodontal Treatment
One of the first things most patients tell their dentist is, “I just don’t have the money for an electric toothbrush.” And while dentists generally understand budget restrictions, they are also universally in agreement that treating gum disease with expensive periodontal therapy can be equally – if not more – expensive.
It’s been reported that the low-end cost of periodontal treatments is right around $2,000, with the cost of periodontal surgery coming in much higher.
Doing the math is a simple equation. If you’d like an endorsement on which electric toothbrush is right for you and your family, contact Precision Dentistry for a recommendation.
Make Sure the Products You Use Contain Fluoride
If you’re a parent, you may have heard about the importance of fluoride treatments for your child’s teeth. There’s a reason for this. There is no substance as protective for the enamel of teeth – including adult teeth – than fluoride.
And while fluoride treatments are most commonly used in pediatric dentistry, there is a way to ensure that you’re protecting your teeth as much as possible without the need for a separate adult fluoride treatment – and that’s only to use oral health products that contain this important mineral.
In addition to fluoride, you may want to consider a toothpaste that contains ingredients to guard against tooth sensitivity and the reduction of tartar build-up.
Again, every set of teeth will have a different set of requirements, so contact your dentist today to get a recommendation of what they suggest is best suited to your oral health.
No One Wants to Talk About It: But Bad Breath Happens
Here’s a fun fact. No one is immune from having bad breath at some point in their life. Halitosis is caused by any number of conditions, including something as simple as the meal you ate last night!
Fortunately, getting rid of periodic bad breath is easily addressed with an oral rinse, breath mints, or chewing gum.
But what about odors that don’t go away?
If you have a lingering mouth odor that other people have commented on, your mouth and gums are trying to tell you to get to the dentist for a check-up!
Some of the conditions that your dentist will be looking for are an oral infection, a build-up of odor-causing bacteria, or excessive dry mouth – all of which can easily be treated when you adhere to a twice a year professional tooth cleaning schedule from your dentist.
Chances are if you’re experiencing bad breath, it’s been longer than six months since your last dental exam. Make an appointment today to get back on track!