Your Murphy Dentist Shares 4 Great At-Home Dental Care Tips

You’ve been brushing your teeth for years now—hopefully! You can recall your mother double and triple-checking that you brushed your teeth before you left the house for school. Your elders did a great job at instilling a regular dental hygiene routine. So when you hear that only 1 in 10 people are brushing their teeth in a way that effectively prevents tooth decay. Even though you’ve been brushing your teeth for as long as you can remember, ask yourself, “Am I really taking care of my teeth properly?” Your Murphy dentist has helpful tips to make sure your dental hygiene is as effective as it can be. By following these quick tips and visiting our Murphy Family Dentistry office regularly, you’ll be well on your way to optimal oral health.

1.    Opt for a soft toothbrush.

You may think that you need a stiffer brush to scrub your gums and teeth. But, not all toothbrushes clean your teeth effectively. Your toothbrush should be created with soft bristles because they are more flexible to reach into the crevices of your teeth and still be gentle on your gums. Brushing should be like a gentle massage for your gums, not abrasive scrubbing.

2.    Brushing should not make your gums bleed!

The point of your at-home dental routine is to remove as much plaque as possible from your teeth, avoiding tartar build-up and tooth decay. But be gentle to your mouth! Brushing too hard can cause damage to your enamel or inflammation to your gums. A lot of patients think that it’s normal to bleed—even just a little—while you brush and floss. That’s a red flag (literally) that you may have a dental issue or that you’re being too rough on your gums. The same issues can occur if you brush too often. Brushing twice a day is good, even three times is great! But any more brushing than that is just too much wear on your teeth. If you’d like to view a video on proper brushing techniques, click here.

3.    Choose the best toothpaste for your dental health.

Did you know there are a variety of different kinds of toothpaste on the market for different oral health issues? There’s whitening toothpaste, hypersensitivity toothpaste, and even herbal toothpaste for people who are more sensitive to chemicals found in regular kinds of toothpaste. It can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. During your dental appointment with either Dr. Nguyen or Dr. Najari, your dentist can point you in the right direction. We will recommend the best ADA (American Dental Association) approved toothpaste for you depending on the weak spots in your smile and your dental goals.

4.    Don’t consider flossing a chore.

Flossing isn’t typically something that most patients look forward to. It takes time and effort to remove plaque between each and every tooth. Nevertheless, flossing is a very important part of preventive dental care! Be sure to floss between each tooth, even in hard to reach places to avoid gum disease in the future. Flossing simply once a day can also reduce the time your dentist has to scrape hardened tartar from between your teeth during your dental appointment. If you have a hard time, there are many tools that can make flossing easier and more enjoyable. Consider using Y-shaped disposable flossers, water picks, or threaders instead of traditional floss.

Visit Murphy Family Dental for Help with Your Dental Routine

Our dental office is proud to offer preventive, progressive dental care. Maintaining great oral health doesn’t just come from visiting your dentist semiannually (although that is a great help), you must also take initiative in your oral health care. By following these tips and keeping an open, regular relationship with our dentists, your mouth should stay in tip-top shape! Contact our Beacon Hill Centre location to schedule an appointment. We would be happy to fit you in for a professional cleaning and a hands-on walk-through on how to properly keep your teeth clean at home.