Tips to choose the right toothpaste for your mouth To make sure your dental health remains its best, our dentists believe that all of our patients must follow an efficient oral hygiene routine from home. Scheduling regular dental exams and cleanings allow us to detect problems early on. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we teach our patients oral hygiene tips that promote a healthy mouth. Regularly visiting our dental office allows us to prevent the development of tooth decay or gum disease. However, this starts at home by using ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Good oral health means a lower risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and Type II diabetes. Uncontrolled tooth decay or gingivitis can lead to tooth loss, which causes many of these health problems.
How to choose the right toothpaste
Our dentists recommend finding a toothpaste with at least 1,000 parts per million fluoride as recommended by the American Dental Association. The best toothpaste is one that cleans your teeth thoroughly and leaves your mouth feeling fresh. Dental Teeth Whitening toothpaste isn’t advisable as the results are short-term. If you have sensitive teeth, we can give you a prescription for a toothpaste for sensitive teeth that will help make brushing and flossing easier. Ultimately, the best toothpaste is one that leaves your mouth free of tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing Tips
We suggest that you brush your teeth at least twice daily with the ADA-accepted toothpaste of your choosing. Always replace your toothbrush every few months, after a sickness, or when the bristles begin to fray. Place your toothbrush in your mouth at a 45-degree angle focused on your gumline. Separate your mouth into four quadrants and gently move the toothbrush back and forth while brushing each section for at least 30 seconds at a time. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too, as it holds onto harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Why is flossing important?
Unhealthy gums increase your chances of having gum disease and, when left untreated, tooth loss. While brushing is important, it cannot protect you from gum disease on its own. When gum disease is left untreated, it can cause receding gums and, in severe cases, tooth loss. Bacteria left inside your mouth can even end up in your bloodstream, which causes an infection.
During a visit to Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we teach our patients how to floss correctly. Start by holding your floss so that most of it is around your middle fingers. Leave about an inch for the teeth that you will work on first. Hold your floss tightly and place it between the two teeth you will be cleaning. Glide the floss up and down, rubbing the sides of each of the teeth gently, never force the floss between the teeth. Curve your floss at the base of each tooth to form a c-shape. This allows you to enter the place between your gums and a tooth. Repeat these steps for all of your teeth.
Keep your teeth and gums healthy
At Dental Express, we know how important it is to choose the right toothpaste and to brush and floss every day. A good oral hygiene routine from home helps you reduce the chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease. To schedule an appointment to learn more about oral hygiene, call our San Diego, CA dental office today.