We are typically taught from a young age that teeth cleaning needs to happen each and every day, but how often does that mean exactly? Today, our Surrey dentists offer some advice for at-home dental care, how often you should brush or floss your teeth and how professional cleanings and care can help.
In order to protect your teeth throughout your lifetime, you need to keep up with daily teeth brushing and flossing along with professional dental exams and professional cleanings.
By attending professional dental appointments, you can also ask any dental and oral hygiene-related questions as well as receive any recommendations or advice that your dentist may offer.
In this post, our Surrey dentists talk more about how routine oral care can benefit you and how often you should be cleaning your teeth
So how often should you actually be brushing and flossing your teeth?
If you are wondering how often you should be cleaning your teeth at home and how to properly do so then our dentists are here to help.
When it comes to brushing your teeth, the ideal amount of time to spend in order to appropriately clear away plaque is 2 minutes. A little longer is fine but do not brush for longer than 4 minutes total. Wait at least 30 minutes after you eat to brush. At the very least, we recommend brushing twice per day and always before bedtime. You might want to try setting a timer to ensure your brushing routine is long enough. Flossing on the other hand should be done daily, ideally during your bedtime teeth-cleaning routine.
While you are brushing your teeth you should be sure to cover the surface of each tooth, including the chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side. Teeth brushing should always be done in a sweep motion at a 45-degree angle. On upper teeth, use a downward sweeping motion. When you get to your lower teeth, use an upward sweeping motion. The only place that you should be using the back-and-forth motion is on the chewing surface of your teeth.
Flossing is a step best done during your before-bed oral hygiene routine. When you floss, you'll dislodge buildup and debris from food between your teeth in places you are unable to reach with your toothbrush. Insert the string of floss between two teeth and run it up and down the side of each, pulling it into a "c" shape in both directions. Take your time while flossing and be sure to floss every crevice along your teeth.
What is the benefit of daily oral hygiene?
You should have a professional dental cleaning and exam performed by our dentists in Surrey every 6 months to help protect your oral health.
During this dental visit, our dental team will examine your teeth for any new concerns and perform a dental cleaning to remove any plaque buildup that has occurred since your last visit. This is crucial to help prevent the buildup of cavity-causing bacteria.
Allowing your dentist the opportunity to note and address any issues early will be key to preventing more serious concerns.
It is crucial to visit the dentist for routine examinations. During these exams, your dentist will be able to spot potentially serious oral health concerns such as cavities, gum disease, cysts, and even tumours that are often not noticeable to the untrained eye in their early stages.