We have all heard about the importance of professional teeth cleanings. But daily at-home oral hygiene is just as crucial if you want to preserve your oral health. In this article, we offer tips for maintaining a clean smile between dental visits.

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Smile Between Dental Visits

Let us examine the habits that will help you maintain the results of your professional dental cleaning for longer and keep your teeth free of plaque and tartar between dental visits:

• Brush your teeth for two full minutes twice a day, ensuring you clean thoroughly at the back of your mouth and other hard-to-reach areas. You can try using an electric brush with an inbuilt timer, which indicates 30 seconds for every side of the mouth.
  Brush your teeth on both sides, front and back, and along the chewing surface.
  Pay special attention to cleaning along the gum line, but be careful not to hurt your gums in the process.
• Choose a medium-soft or soft toothbrush to avoid hurting your gums, but make sure that your brush is effective at removing plaque and food residue.
  Opt for a fluoride toothpaste to help remineralize the enamel and make your teeth more resilient to bacteria.
  Floss every evening to thoroughly remove plaque and food debris that accumulate between your teeth. Be gentle and avoid pushing the floss too far into the gums to prevent irritation.
• If flossing is challenging or you have dental appliances that make flossing less straightforward, try additional tools, such as floss threaders.
• Add a water flosser as an additional step in your routine. It has been proven to be most effective when used before brushing and flossing, and can offer additional protection against cavities and gum disease. Remember that a water flosser can not replace traditional flossing and brushing.
• If the position of your teeth (for example, if they are crowded) makes cleaning them appropriately challenging or insufficient, consider an orthodontic treatment, which can not only improve the appearance of your smile but also support your oral health.
• Even if your at-home routine is effective, do not neglect biyearly professional cleanings.

Why Personal Oral Hygiene Is as Important as Professional Cleanings

During a professional cleaning, your dentist can effectively remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, making them feel clean and smooth. However, having your teeth cleaned twice a year will not preserve your oral health if your personal daily oral hygiene is insufficient.

Plaque builds up on our teeth extremely fast: within hours after eating and drinking. Moreover, plaque can harden and turn into tartar within 24 to 72 hours if it is not removed. Typically, tartar can only be removed at a dental office using special instruments.

Plaque and tartar are acidic and a perfect environment for bacterial proliferation. Acid and bacteria destroy the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities, staining, and discoloration. On top of that, tartar accumulation is one of the leading causes of gum disease. Gum disease can only be reversed in its earliest stages; if left untreated, it becomes chronic. Regular at-home care not only keeps your smile bright but also prevents cavities, gum disease, and costly dental treatments in the future. Consistency in brushing, flossing, and dental checkups ensures your oral health stays strong year-round.

The short time it takes for plaque and tartar to accumulate on your teeth makes daily oral hygiene imperative to avoid cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.

Make an Appointment at TruGlo Calabasas

Do not hesitate to schedule a checkup and professional cleaning with an experienced dentist at TruGlo Calabasas today. At our office, we utilize modern diagnostic and treatment methods to help our clients enhance and maintain their oral health.