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The Essentials of At-Home Dental Care

Brushing Teeth - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

1. Brushing twice a day

Brushing Teeth - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day means right after you wake up and right before you go to bed. Brushing your teeth regularly helps prevent any possible tartar buildup that will cause issues for you down the line.

If you only brush once a day, then the food you eat within the next 24 hours will have an easier chance of hardening on your enamel. Plaque starts off soft and easy to remove but will harden if left untreated. Once it is hardened, your only option is to have the plaque scraped off at a dental cleaning.

2. Daily cleaning in-between the teeth

Floss Picks - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

Many people don’t understand that your teeth can indirectly cause health issues like heart disease, diabetes, etc. The American Dental Association urges people to clean between their teeth at least once a day with any one of the following:

  • Floss Picks
  • Water Pick
  • Floss String

Flossing gets rid of the plaque that builds up between your teeth which will better prevent gum disease and cavities. It is very important to partake in this at least once a day to ensure you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

3. Use mouthwash

Mouthwash - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

Using mouthwash is never the option when you want to avoid brushing or flossing your teeth, but it is an important step in your dental routine. Mouthwash does not only eliminate bad breath, but it does so by killing bacteria that may have grown in your mouth. We recommend using mouthwash with any of the following ingredients:

  • Fluoride
  • Peroxide
  • Cetylpyridinium Chloride
  • Essential Oils like menthol, thymol, eucalyptus, etc.

These ingredients help strengthen teeth and aid in the removal of plaque, bacteria, and more intense dental issues like gingivitis and gum disease. 

4. Using the right toothpaste

Toothpaste

When choosing a toothpaste, look for the ones that contain fluoride. Fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel and makes sure to lessen the chances of tooth decay.

5. Replacing brushes regularly

Replace toothbrush heads - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

The CDC suggests that it is best to change your manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months. The bristles on your toothbrush are used to eliminate bacteria, but they become highly contaminated with oral bacteria over time.

Your toothbrush is either cleaning the bacteria and plaque from your mouth or sitting in your bathroom damp after each use, where bacteria can quickly grow. A good indicator that it is time to change your toothbrush is if it starts to look worn out.

6. Use your necessary dental appliances

Occlusal Guard - Century Smile Dental - Culver City, CA

Aside from cleaning your teeth, it is important to continuously take part in any other dental care you may need. This can include any of the following:

  • Occlusal Guards: mouth guards, night guards, and occlusal splints
  • Retainers
  • Appropriate care for braces, crowns, and fillings

7. Eat a healthy diet

Avoid Sugar - Century Smile Dental - Culver City

While twice-daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash use help eliminate any plaque build-up during the day, it is important to lower your intake of the following foods:

  • Avoid sugar
  • Excessive and Processed Starches 
  • Alcohol  
  • Sugary and carbonated soft drinks 

We are not saying these are completely off-limits, but we are saying that it’s best not to consume these often or in large portions. 

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