Oral hygiene is something that everyone starts doing at an early age, and while you may be diligent about proper practices in the beginning, over time, you may be less and less on top of the practices you learned as a kid. As a result, you may notice that you have more issues with your teeth as an adult. That’s why, in today’s post, we will discuss some of the common oral hygiene mistakes people make so that you can try and avoid making them in the future.
Are you concerned about your oral health? Do you want to do what’s best for your teeth? Stoll Family Dental in Parker is here to help! We offer a variety of services at our family dentistry practice that is designed to help you get the beautiful smile that you desire. Whether you want to schedule a regular check-up, whitening services, or you need some cosmetic work done, our team is here to help. Explore our website to learn more about our services, and give us a call to schedule an appointment at our family dentistry practice!
Brushing Once a Day
As a child, you’re taught to brush your teeth at least twice a day — after breakfast and before bed at night. However, as you get older, you may lose the habit of brushing your teeth that often. Most adults are good about brushing their teeth in the morning so they have fresh breath when they go into work. That being said, brushing your teeth after lunch may be completely out of the question, and by the time you get home, make dinner, and have time to relax, brushing your teeth before bed may seem like too much of a hassle. As a result, most adults don’t brush their teeth nearly as much as they should, leading to a build-up of bacteria.
Not Brushing Long Enough
Even if you do manage to brush your teeth both in the morning and at night, your efforts could be useless if you’re not brushing your teeth for the right amount of time. Taking a quick swipe across all of your teeth just to remove any plaque and leave your breath minty fresh may seem like enough, but in reality, a quick brush doesn’t remove all the bacteria that it should, leaving you at risk for cavities. Instead, make sure you’re brushing your teeth for a full two minutes each and every time you brush.
Refusing to Floss
Next to brushing your teeth, flossing is one of the most important things you can do for your smile. When you eat, you can get food particles stuck in between your teeth, and even if you brush, those food particles can remain. If you leave the food in your teeth, it can be the perfect recipe for bacteria growth. Additionally, people tend to avoid flossing because it can lead to bleeding gums or cause pain. The truth of the matter is that flossing causes your gums to bleed or pain in your mouth, it’s an indicator that you need to floss more than ever, so it’s best to start now before the problem gets worse.
Failing to Change Your Toothbrush
The job of your toothbrush is to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth. However, once you’re done brushing, there’s a good chance that some of the bacteria can remain on your toothbrush. As you can imagine, if you’re not changing your toothbrush frequently enough, the bacteria can build up to the point where you’re just spreading it around. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that you are replacing your toothbrush every three to four months to ensure that you aren’t just adding more bacteria into your mouth.
Storing Your Toothbrush Incorrectly
Going along the same lines of changing your toothbrush, you should also make sure that you are storing your toothbrush correctly. One of the most common mistakes people make is storing their toothbrush in a drawer. While this may be the most convenient place to keep it, storing your toothbrush this way could result in bacteria growth. Instead, consider storing your toothbrush in a holder that will allow water to drip off the head of the brush, as well as allow it to air dry properly.
Ready for a Cleaner Smile?
Now that you know some of the most common mistakes to avoid, it’s time to start providing your smile with the very best care, and that starts with a regular check-up at Stoll Family Dental. Explore our website to learn more about our family dentistry services in Parker, and give us a call with any questions you have about our practice. Ready to schedule your appointment? Use our online contact form or reach out to us to schedule your first appointment.
We look forward to working with you!