3 Remarkable Dental Hygiene Tips from Your West Palm Beach Dentist
As your West Palm Beach dentist, we believe that good patient education can substantially improve patients' dental hygiene.
If you feel uncomfortable with your smile and want to start focusing on creating healthy routines for your dental health, we're here to make the process easier with these easy-to-implement tips, techniques, and strategies.
Keep reading to learn our top three dental hygiene tips that you can start today to improve your oral health!
1. Find a Soft Toothbrush
If you have a manual or electric toothbrush with medium or hard bristles, it's time to invest in a soft bristle toothbrush instead. Brushing your teeth too hard can damage the enamel of your teeth as well as your gums, causing them to recede. You can cause even more damage by using medium or hard bristles.
Soft bristles are gentler on your teeth but just as effective at loosening food particles and applying toothpaste. A soft bristle toothbrush can also give you more leeway if you tend to brush your teeth harder.
2. Don't Rinse Your Mouth
Many people rinse their mouths with water after brushing their teeth, but most dentists do not recommend this. By spitting out excess toothpaste when you're done brushing but leaving it on your teeth, you're allowing the fluoride to work its magic on restoring and strengthening your tooth enamel.
If you feel there are still food particles in your mouth, consider flossing and rinsing your mouth with water before brushing your teeth! Flossing first is also a great idea because you're far less likely to do it if it's a task assigned to the end of your routine.
3. Mouthwash Isn't Necessary
If you're confused about where mouthwash fits into your routine, it isn't as necessary as flossing at least once a day and brushing your teeth twice a day. However, your dentist may recommend a specific mouthwash if you're dealing with bad breath, gingivitis, or gum disease.
If this is the case, wait at least 30 minutes after brushing before using mouthwash so you can give the fluoride more time to work. You can also opt to use your mouthwash after lunch in the middle of the day, especially if you've eaten sweets.
Tips From Your West Palm Beach Dentist: Start Your Dental Hygiene Routine Today
It can be hard to get started with an excellent dental hygiene routine if it wasn't something you were taught when you were younger. However, remember that habits are formed over time and not overnight. With this in mind, choose easy tasks for you to complete, such as brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day.
Once that task is easy for you, move on to the next one—like flossing your teeth. Again, if you remain patient and consistent, you'll be rewarded with fresh breath, clean teeth, and a confident smile.
Dental hygiene isn't complete without a twice or once yearly trip to your West Palm Beach dentist. Contact us today to get started!
