Your Oral Health Checklist

Our oral health is one of the most important things. It’s a key component of overall health and making sure you’re committed to your wellness. But it can be easy for us to fall behind on our self-care with life events and busy schedules.

Dr. Mark Sowell, a dentist in Plano, TX, and our dental care team want to make sure you remember the importance of your oral health. We’ve created a checklist you can follow to remind you to hit every step to help keep your mouth healthy.

Brushing Your Teeth Correctly

Brushing at least twice a day is a crucial step to a healthy smile. But it’s also essential you’re brushing your teeth in the correct manner. You want to make sure it’s actually effective brushing, otherwise, you’re just wasting time.

For starters, make sure each of your brushing sessions lasts about two minutes. You want to thoroughly and comprehensively brush your entire mouth. Gentle pressure is good, but don’t overdo it. That can damage your toothbrush and hurt your gums. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and make sure you replace that toothbrush every three months.

Don’t forget to brush your tongue! This part is essential to help eliminate bacteria growth and bad breath. While it’s ideal to brush after every meal, make sure you do have a waiting period. Brushing too soon after consuming certain things – like something acidic – can actually cause damage.

And Flossing Too

Flossing is something that so many people let fall by the wayside. But dentists continue to preach its benefits – it’s just as important as brushing! You should floss at least once a day, but it’s particularly beneficial after eating to help get any food particles that may remain stuck in your teeth.

Without flossing, those food particles and bacteria accumulate in between your teeth. They get caught up in hard-to-reach places that your toothbrush can’t reach. When you don’t floss, you have an increased likelihood of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and losing your teeth.

Eat A Balanced Diet

Certain things that you consume can impact your oral health more than others. In particular, foods and beverages that contain a lot of sugar, starch, or acid are harmful to your smile. It’s important to only enjoy these things in moderation. If you know you’re going to have something sugary or acidic, have a glass of water after. It can help flush away any bacteria or lingering particles that can cause problems.

Schedule A Bi-Annual Dental Checkup

Visiting the dentist regularly can help you stop dental problems before they become more serious. This can eliminate the need for more intensive dental procedures, like dental implants to replace missing teeth. Typically, a regular dental visit includes both a thorough dental cleaning and a comprehensive oral examination.

During the cleaning, a dental hygienist uses tools to get into hard-to-reach places. A deep cleaning ensures plaque and tartar don’t build up. Oral exams can help us diagnose problems before they show symptoms that would be visible to you. Our advanced training means we know the early warning sides of dental problems.

Have you had a dental exam recently? It’s time to make sure that box on your checklist is filled in. Call us or schedule an appointment online.