Healthy Teeth Habits
How to Properly Care for Your Teeth
Caring for your beautiful smile doesn’t have to be challenging. Here, we’ve outlined several healthy teeth habits to keep you smiling and your teeth happy!
- Brushing twice a day.
- Brushing gently in small, circular movements (avoid back and forth movements) will remove plaque buildup and food. Thoroughly brushing your teeth can take between 2-3 minutes, but make sure you brush the top, front and back of the teeth! Dr. Greenbaum recommends using a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush to avoid hurting or damaging the teeth. Remember to change out your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 months!
- Add fluoride into your routine
- Dr. Greenbaum believes that fluoride helps to fight against cavities and it is a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. A review found that brushing and flossing do not prevent a person from getting cavities if they do not use fluoride.
- Floss once a day
- In addition to brushing twice a day, flossing once a day (usually before bed) can remove any buildup brushing may have missed. Food particles can wedge between the teeth and harbor bacteria that can cause cavities and other gum issues.
- Limit sugary foods and beverages – drink water instead!
- Studies continue to highlight the significant role that sugar plays in adverse dental health outcomes. As delicious as candy and sugary beverages can be, overindulging in these can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and other oral issues. Enjoying these once in a while is okay, just make sure to limit yourself to keep your teeth healthy. The ADA recommends drinking water or unsweetened tea throughout the day and only drinking sugar-sweetened drinks at meal times and in small volumes.
- Avoid Smoking
- The CDC names smoking as a risk factor for gum disease. Dr. Greenbaum wants his patients to have the best chance at a healthy smile and smoking can lead to your teeth turning yellow, as well as the tongue! Smoking can also slow your body’s ability to heal itself, making it difficult to recover from dental procedures.
- Add a mouthwash to your routine
- Trusted dental studies have found adding mouthwash to be beneficial to oral health. One review discovered that mouthwash containing chlorhexidine, an antibacterial ingredient, helps control plaque and gingivitis.
- Visit your dentist regularly
- Scheduling your twice yearly dental appointment will help keep your smile healthy! During a routine dental examination, a hygienist will clean the teeth and remove plaque and hardened tartar. Dr. Greenbaum will check for visual signs of cavities, gum disease, mouth cancer, and other oral health issues as well as perform X-rays to to check for cavities. Dr. Greenbaum loves caring for his patients, so if you need to schedule a dental checkup give us a call!
📞: Bethesda Office Phone Number 301-530-3600
💻: [email protected]
📍 : 6410 Rockledge Drive Suite 106, Bethesda, MD
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