Could You Do More to Care for Your Smile?

Could You Do More to Care for Your Smile?Most everyone wants to enjoy having a beautiful smile, but many people don’t realize that a great-looking smile starts with good oral health. Before you can reap the benefits of whitening treatment or even veneers, you first need to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. Are you doing all you can to take care of your teeth and gums? Keeping your smile looking and feeling its best requires a combination of dental hygiene and professional preventive care.

What Should Your Daily Hygiene Routine Include?

You probably already know you need to be brushing your teeth at least twice a day. But if you have neglected flossing, in the past, it’s time to make that a daily habit as well. Flossing is essential to removing food particles and bacteria that can easily lodge between teeth, allowing plaque to buildup on the surface of the teeth and gums. Once plaque has calcified, it creates tartar that can only be removed through a professional cleaning.

To keep plaque and tartar at bay, floss at least once a day!

Plaque-fighting mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your dental hygiene routine, but it’s not a substitute for either brushing or flossing.

Preventive Checkups Are Essential Dental Care

Even if you are currently enjoying a healthy smile, that doesn’t mean it’s time to skip out on your regular dental checkup and cleaning. Sticking to bi-annual checkups and cleanings is one of the best ways to prevent cavities, as well as gum disease. (Some patients may even require more frequent dental visits, but for most children and adults twice annual checkups are recommended.)

A cleaning allows the dentist to remove any tartar that has developed, improving the appearance of your smile, but more importantly protecting it from dental problems!