Dentist in Murphy on How Often You Need to Brush & Floss

It’s probably been awhile since you first learned how to take care of your smile — and if you’re finding you could use a little brush up on proper oral hygiene habits, you are certainly not alone. About half of American adults have periodontal disease, which is primarily caused by lax dental hygiene. Your dentist in Murphy wants to stop that trend! Keep reading to freshen up on what it takes to keep your teeth cleaner, happier, and healthier for a lifetime to come.

How to Brush Better

Sure, you’ve been flossing all your life, but are you really doing it properly? Many people are surprised to learn they’ve been brushing wrong — or perhaps doing almost as much harm as good with hard side-to-side strokes. To brush properly, make sure you are starting with gentle, circular motions. Putting a little elbow grease into your brushing technique may feel like you’re getting a deep clean, but you are also damaging your delicate gum tissue in the meantime.

And did you know that you should be brushing for two minutes, twice a day, every single day? People who tend to have more plaque and tartar buildup could benefit from even more frequent brushing, like after each meal. Clean each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds each, and don’t forget to gently brush your tongue, too.

Floss, Floss, Floss

After you have brushed your teeth (or before, it doesn’t really matter), make sure you floss, too! Don’t believe the rumors that flossing isn’t all that important — because it gets into the spaces that your toothbrush just can’t reach, flossing is as crucial, or perhaps even more so, than brushing your teeth.

Good flossing isn’t a rapid-fire attack throughout your mouth. To properly clean between your teeth, take about 18 inches of new floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about an inch to work with in between. Gently work the floss up, down, and around the base of each tooth. Make your way down the string of floss, using a new area between each tooth to avoid redistributing the bacteria. Clean between each of your teeth and around behind your very last tooth, too.

Bonus Tips for Improved Oral Hygiene

Brush, floss, and keep these tips in mind to improve your smile health this year, and for many more to come.

• Use fluoridated toothpaste to strengthen your tooth enamel.
• Maintain a balanced, nutritious diet.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
• Limit snacking between meals.
• Chew sugar free gum.
• Add an antiseptic mouthrinse to supplement your brushing and flossing habits.

And Don’t Forget to Visit Murphy Family Dentistry!

In addition to maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits at home, don’t forget that every healthy smile is built on regular visits to the dentist! When was your last trip to Murphy Family Dentistry? If it’s been longer than six months, it’s time for you to come see us. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!