The time and effort that you put in to cleaning your smile every day pays off over time in a more attractive and long-lasting smile. You’ve probably already developed an oral hygiene routine that feels intuitive, but are you really doing everything you can do to support your smile?
Our Santa Monica Dentists are here to give you some helpful tips on caring for your smile day in and day out. Keep reading to learn more!
The foundation of any healthy oral hygiene routine is diligent dental brushing. The American Dental Association recommends that dental patients brush their teeth at least twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed.
It’s important to note that you should be brushing your smile for at least 2 minutes every time that you brush. You may be surprised at just how long 2 minutes really is—try setting a timer or listening to a song that is about 2 minutes to make sure that you’re staying on track.
While brushing your teeth, you also want to ensure that you’re applying gentle pressure to your enamel and gum tissues. If you brush too forcefully, you can actually weaken your enamel and damage oral tissues.
Here’s a quick tip on flossing: the best time to floss your smile is at night, right before you brush your smile. When you floss at the end of your day, you dislodge dental debris and bacteria that have built up. Then, you can immediately brush any remnants off of your smile, and even finish off with a mouth rinse, if necessary.
Our Santa Monica dentists are here to help you optimize your at-home oral hygiene routine so that you can enjoy a healthy and attractive smile for years to come. As always, we’re here to answer your questions and provide you with the support you need, so give us a call to get started!