Good oral health helps you maintain the look of your smile, keep your teeth and gums healthy, avoid pain, and protect your overall health. Neglecting your oral health, on the other hand, can lead to discolored teeth, decay, gum disease, and serious medical issues. Fortunately, the process of caring for your teeth is not complicated. Following a consistent routine that involves brushing, flossing, and going to routine dental visits will provide you with a foundation for good oral health.

Brushing

Brushing your teeth twice per day is a foundational element of good oral health. Brushing helps remove surface stains, food particles, and harmful bacteria from your teeth and mouth. Brushing for at least two minutes twice per day will go a long way toward preventing issues like decay, gum disease, discoloration, and bad breath. Find a song you love that lasts for at least two minutes and turn it on when it’s time to brush. Thoroughly brush your teeth, tongue, and inside of your cheeks until the song is complete to maximize the effectiveness of the process. The simple process of brushing twice per day will provide important protection against many of the most common dental issues.

Flossing

Flossing once per day is a standard recommendation for good oral health. The process of flossing removes food particles and bacteria from between your teeth and at the gumline. Flossing gets to areas in your mouth that brushings cannot reach – which is why you should floss in addition to brushing. You do not have to floss for a set amount of time just make sure to run the floss between every tooth at least once per day. Flossing is one of the most neglected oral health tasks but it should be a priority in your oral care routine. Flossing at least once per day can help prevent decay and gum disease.

Going to routine dental visits

Going to routine dental visits twice per year helps protect your overall oral health. During preventative dental visits your teeth will get a thorough cleaning that involves removing plaque and tartar buildup. The cleaning you receive can help prevent issues like decay and gum disease. The health of your gums and teeth will also be examined during these appointments. If you have any signs of decay, gum disease, or infection during the appointment you will discuss next steps with your dentist and schedule a time to get treatment. Routine dental visits are an important part of preventing minor dental problems from turning into major issues.

The three basic tasks outlined above are all essential to getting and maintaining good oral health. Implementing these basics of dental care into your routine is not complicated. It does, however, take consistency if you want to get the full benefits of these activities. You can get started today by brushing and flossing on the recommended schedule. And, if it is time for your next preventative appointment, you can make an appointment request online with Aristo Dental.