When someone first meets you, what’s the first thing that they notice? To some it may be a firm handshake, to other’s it might be your hair. But many would agree that one of the first things their eyes are drawn to is the smile.
Aesthetics aren’t the only reason that you should follow this daily routine from your dentist in Lake Forest, though. Having a healthy smile is just as important!
Begin in the Morning
Your morning routine likely consists of washing your face, shaving or putting on makeup, and styling your hair. Your smile shouldn’t go unnoticed! Complete this morning ritual to boost your oral hygiene and smile’s appearance:
- Brush your teeth: Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush for effective toothbrushing. Use a fluoridated toothpaste to clean your smile and remove plaque, dental debris, and food from the night before.
- Floss: When you floss, be sure to use just over a foot of clean between teeth. Use a careful sawing motion to insert the floss between your teeth without being abrasive to the gums.
- Rinse: Mouthwash is the final step to your morning dental routine, although it’s not completely necessary. However, it can add a nice boost of minty freshness to your breath and kill any lingering bacteria if you use an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Care for Your Teeth at Night, Too
Caring for your smile as soon as you get up in the morning is key to great oral health, but if you neglect oral hygiene at bedtime, you can void those efforts. Your morning routine is used to remove materials in the mouth after they fester overnight, but your nightly routine is to remove lingering food and bad dental bacteria from your day’s activities.
You should follow the same routine outlined above for morning dental care before you go to bed. Don’t skip any parts, although many people “get away with” flossing just once a day. Just keep this fact in the back of your mind when you think about skipping flossing: you miss up to 35% of your tooth’s surface when you don’t floss between teeth!
Consider What’s Happening When You Sleep
Many people grind or clench their teeth while they sleep, which can damage the jaw, cause headaches, wear down your teeth overtime. A simple solution to this problem is to wear a customized mouthguard from your local dentist.
Simply wear your personalized mouthpiece before you go to bed and throughout the night. This can protect your teeth from grinding against each other if you have a bad bruxism (chronic teeth grinding) habit.
Do you have more questions about your regular dental routine, what to add to it, or preventive services offered in the office? Feel free to contact your local dentist!
About Our Office
Here at Lake Forest Smiles, we know that we will do everything in our power to improve oral health here in our office. But are you doing everything you can at home? Let us help you optimize your oral health! Call us today to schedule your next preventive care visit.