We want you to see our team for regular checkups and cleanings, and to also see our team for visits should you have toothaches or other concerns. But with good oral hygiene habits at home, you can better protect your smile in between these visits! In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentist talks about caring for your smile at home!
The Risks of Plaque and Tartar
You need to take time to clean your teeth each day, because otherwise harmful oral bacteria will consume the particles of sugar and starch left behind by your meal and the drinks you consume. When this happens, the teeth are coated in plaque, a bacterial byproduct that can weaken enamel and irritate the gums, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. The layers harden into tartar with time and cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone. But these actions can limit severity until you see us for a cleaning!
Brushing and Flossing
When you take time to properly care for your teeth and gums each day, you limit the risk of bad breath, stained teeth, cavities, and even gum disease. Adults and children alike need to begin their day by brushing for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. Flossing is also critical, as this cleans the spaces between the teeth and under the gum line that a toothbrush’s bristles alone cannot reach. Everyone needs to floss each evening, using the pick, string, or tape up and down each side of every tooth, and dipping beneath the gums when you do.
Better Snack Choices and Habits
You can also protect your smile with your meal and snack choices! Remember, earlier we said that harmful oral bacteria love to consume sugar and starch, which meals limiting these ingredients in your diet can better protect your smile. Cut back on candies, snack cakes, chips, sodas, and other items high in sugar and starch. You should also limit seemingly healthy items like dried fruit and juice in moderation too, again these contain a lot of sugar.
With fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grain breads, low-fat yogurts and cheeses, and other healthy items high in vitamins C and D, you better manage your oral health and protect your smile from disease. You should also see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months, and now is a great time to schedule that first visit of 2026, we look forward to seeing you and your family soon!
Talk to Brighton Family Dental About Caring for Your Smile
Our team wants to talk about protecting your teeth and gums from home each day. Learn more about safeguarding your oral health, by calling us at Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210.
