How To Care For Your Teeth & Gums

Chappaqua Dentistry is a reliable, professional dental office with years of expertise helping patients to care for their teeth and gums effectively. We want to help our patients by giving them all of the knowledge they need to care for their teeth and gums correctly at home, so they can have a healthy, great-looking smile.

Your daily routine will heavily determine how healthy your mouth is – not just your twice a year dental appointments. Once you know exactly what you should be doing each day, you can make them a habit, and it’ll be second nature to you.

Brush Twice A Day

The first and most important step is to make sure you brush your teeth twice a day. You should brush first thing in the morning before eating to avoid damaging your enamel, and you should brush before going to bed.

Ideally, you should use an electric or Sonicare toothbrush, as this will do most of the work for you and will often give a cleaner feel than a manual toothbrush. It’s very easy to brush too hard with a manual toothbrush, and this can damage your enamel. Using an electric/Sonicare brush means you simply hold it on the tooth with a light pressure, gently moving the brush so as not to bend the bristles or damage your gums/enamel. Many of these new toothbrushes will tell you if you are brushing too hard, and even when to move on to another section of your mouth.

When you have brushed each tooth, you may also want to brush your gums to ensure that they are pink and healthy. Some brushes now have ‘gum care’ settings that can make this much easier.

To finish, brush your tongue to get rid of any built up bacteria and freshen your breath further!

Change Toothbrushes Frequently

If you have an electric or Sonicare toothbrush, make sure you pay attention to the head so you can be sure you don’t use it when it is no longer suitable. As with a manual tooth brush, the bristles should not be bent. Usually, you will know when the head needs to be changed, or you need a new brush, as the color on the bristles will have almost disappeared. Some brushes will indicate when they need to be changed.

Floss

Flossing helps to get the debris out from between the teeth, stops bad breath, and helps to avoid decay. You need to make sure you have a good flossing technique if you’re going to get the most out of this. You’ll need around 18 inches of floss, so you can properly get between all of your teeth. Focusing on one tooth at a time, make sure you gently move the floss in and out, up and down, and floss below the gum line. Your gums may bleed at first, but this is normal. When you get into a good routine, they will stop.

Rinse

Rinse your mouth when you are finished with a good mouthwash. This will get rid of any remaining debris and bacteria and help to freshen your breath. 

Seek Treatment For Teeth Grinding And Other Issues

If you’ve noticed that you grind your teeth when you are stressed or asleep, seek treatment for this as soon as possible. Grinding can be terrible for your teeth, as you can wear them right down and leave them exposed and sensitive. You may need to invest in a custom mouthguard, but there are other treatment options available depending on your needs and how severe the problem is. If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw and a headache, you may be grinding your teeth without knowing it. Schedule a consultation to discuss your issue as soon as possible.

Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools

You should never use your teeth as tools, as this can cause them to chip and crack. Chips and cracks are usually more of a cosmetic issue, but serious chips and cracks can be painful, cause sensitivity, and potentially other problems. They can usually be fixed with treatments like composite bonding or veneers, but the easiest thing to do is to avoid using your teeth in a damaging way at all. Don’t rip off tags with your teeth, or open bottles, for example!

Visit Your Dentist Twice A Year

You can take care of your teeth to the best of your abilities, but there’s still a chance you will develop a problem. A dentist will spot an issue faster than you, so make sure you visit your dentist twice a year to have your teeth professionally assessed and cleaned. You may not have noticed any changes in your teeth, but we will be able to spot any issues early on. You may need a simple filling, or you may simply need to have your teeth polished. This will leave them feeling and looking extra clean and healthy!

Avoid Risks That Could Impact Your Teeth & Gums

There are many risks that people take every day with their teeth and gums. Although smoking is declining in popularity, many people still partake in it. It is one of the worst things you can possibly do, not only for your mouth, but for your overall health. Below is an idea of other risks that could impact your oral health: 

• Certain Medications 
• Eating foods that stain (curry, balsamic vinegar, beetroot, berries, etc.)
• Consuming drinks that stain (tea, coffee, red wine, cola, fruit juice, etc.) 
• Improper brushing technique (brushing too hard or not properly brushing your whole mouth)
• An irregular routine (only brushing once a day, every other day, or not brushing at all)

Make An Appointment Today!

If you want to make sure you have been caring for your teeth and gums correctly, schedule your consultation at Chappaqua Dentistry today. We can be of assistance to you whether you require professional teeth cleaning or a complete cosmetic solution. A friendly member of the team is waiting to assist you – we hope to hear from you soon!