Developing a Good Oral Care Routine

Boost your at-home oral care routine with these expert tips for a cleaner, healthier smile.

Caring for our smiles doesn’t have to be difficult. With everyone hunkered down at home, now is the perfect time to improve your oral care habits and routine to support healthier teeth and gums. From the office of our Wauwatosa, WI, family dentist Dr. Daniel Malloy, here’s the oral care routine everyone should follow,

Brush in the Morning and Before Bed

Plaque organization takes 24 hours to be able to produce acid.  This is where tooth decay come from primarily. To disrupt plaque colonies, with a daily brush and floss routine, is the important thing.  Also important is to make any routine convenient and therefore easy to implement daily.  

We suggest brushing at least twice a day with a good fluoride toothpaste.  Automated toothbrushes and flossers have been shown to be quite effective and helpful, especially for those with complicated or physically difficult situations.  These steps with moderation of sugary or acidic foods, goes a long way to keep gums and teeth healthy.

Floss Every Day  

Brushing only removes about 43 percent of plaque from your teeth and gums. This leaves a whopping 57 percent of plaque behind, which can lead to cavities and gum disease. This is why simply just brushing your teeth isn’t enough to get it completely clean; you will also need to floss every day. Flossing is great for cleaning those tight spaces between teeth.

However, if you have larger spaces between teeth an interdental brush may be a better way to clean between teeth. Wondering what flossing tool will work best for you? Ask our Wauwatosa, WI, family dentist the next time you’re in the office. We can provide some suggestions that could improve your at-home flossing game.

Get the Most from Your Mouthwash

You may immediately use an oral rinse after brushing your teeth, but this is actually counterproductive. Rinsing your mouth out after brushing will only wash away the fluoride from your teeth. Therefore, it’s a good idea to use mouthwash throughout the day, separate from your brushing and flossing routine. Bring mouthwash with you so that you can also rinse on the go.

Replace Your Toothbrush 

No matter whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush you will need to replace it at some point. If the bristles of your toothbrush look a little worse for the wear then it’s probably time to toss it in the garbage and replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head, if you have an electric toothbrush). Most toothbrush heads will need to be replaced every 3-4 months; however, you should replace them right away if you’ve recently gotten over an illness like a cold or flu.

It’s now just as important as ever that our patients are practicing good oral hygiene and keeping their smiles healthy. You have enough to worry about; the last thing you want to deal with is a toothache or dental emergency. Of course, accidents happen. If you or a loved one is faced with an emergency please call our Wauwatosa, WI, general dentist Dr. Daniel Malloy right away at (414) 258-2830.