A beautiful, healthy smile makes a great first impression and is one of the key reasons why people are perceived as attractive, successful and youthful.
Practicing good dental hygiene and regular visits to your dentist will not only help you maintain a bright, white smile, but also:
- Lowers your risk of developing serious health conditions such as stroke and heart disease
- Reduces your risk of developing gum disease
- Detects dental conditions, such as cavities, early on before they require painful & extensive treatment
- Allows your dentist to perform important oral cancer screenings
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our team of Calgary dentists provide extensive oral care services including dental cleanings, checkups and teeth whitening, to help protect your dental and overall health.
4 Daily Dental Hygiene Tips for A Beautiful, White Smile
Maintaining good dental hygiene is crucial as it will prevent oral problems such as gum disease and infections. Failing to take care of the health of your mouth may even lead to more serious medical problems such as bone loss and heart disease.
Here are some simple and easy tips to incorporate into your dental hygiene routine:
1. Floss
Flossing is one of the most avoided dental hygiene steps and according to a national survey, only 21% of adults use dental floss regularly. This is mostly due to the fact that it is a time consuming procedure.
However, dentists always recommend flossing to their patients as it helps remove food particles and other detrimental substances that cannot be found by using only a toothbrush. Floss allows you to reach deep within your teeth, where even mouthwash cannot reach.
Flossing Tips
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Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind some around one finger of each hand
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Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers, leaving an inch of floss between them
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Use a gentle ‘rocking’ motion to guide the floss between your teeth
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When the floss reaches your gumline, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth until you feel resistance.
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Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum. Repeat on the other side of the gap, along the side of the next tooth.
REMEMBER: When flossing, keep a regular pattern. Start at the top of your mouth and work from right to left. Then move to the bottom and move from right to left. This way, you will be less likely to miss any teeth.
2. Limit Fizzy Drinks & Coffee
Nutrition has an important role to play in your dental hygiene routine and it’s crucial to stick to a healthy, nutritious diet. This means avoiding carbonated drinks which contain a large amount of sugar. Ingesting them daily can lead to rotting teeth, as the breakdown of sugar in your mouth creates acids that erode your tooth enamel.
Both coffee and fizzy drinks also contribute greatly to the staining of your teeth. Pigments from dark colored liquids such as coke, red wine and coffee, become embedded in the ridges and cracks of your enamel and can cause permanent staining.
If you are worried about yellowing teeth, you should talk to your dentist about in-office teeth whitening. At Marlborough Dental Centre, we use the advanced Britesmile Teeth Whitening System that has many advantages including:
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Long-lasting, quick results (notice a dramatic difference in just one treatment!)
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Safe procedure with no harmful side effects
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Quick and painless procedure
3. Brush Your Teeth Properly
Every patient has been told by their dentist to brush their teeth at least twice a day. However, it’s very important for your dental hygiene that you do this CORRECTLY in order to avoid the buildup of plaque and/or bacteria.
Here are some tips on how to brush your teeth effectively:
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Using a SOFT TOOTHBRUSH, place it at a 45 degree angle up to the gum line. This will protect your gums and help you brush your teeth effectively.
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Use a small, circular motion and clean one tooth at a time.
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Remember to clean both the upper and lower teeth as well as the front and back of each tooth.
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Avoid pressing hard - use the tips of the bristles to enable them to reach into the spaces between your teeth.
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Brush your tongue gently, starting from the back forward and avoid scrubbing it. This helps remove bacteria, freshening your breath.
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The whole routine should last at least 2-3 minutes.
4. Clean Your Tongue
While most people remember to brush their teeth, many patients forget that they should be cleaning their tongue too as part of their dental hygiene routine. Most modern toothbrushes come with a tongue scraper on the reverse, which you should use every morning to remove tongue plaque.
REMEMBER: A buildup of bacteria on the tongue is a major contributor to bad breath and using a tongue scraper will eliminate this, keeping your mouth fresh and healthy. Don’t forget the mouthwash too!
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
It is recommended that you visit your dentist twice a year. Doing so is the biggest key to having healthy teeth, as there is only so much your dental hygiene routine at home can do.
By visiting a qualified, professional dentist, you will receive tailored advice on what you should be doing to protect the health of your mouth and gums. In addition, booking annual dental cleanings has many benefits including:
- Prevents yellowing teeth
- Detects oral cancer
- Eliminates bad breath
- Early detection of any oral problems & avoids costly, extensive future treatment
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our registered dental hygienists provide comprehensive and affordable dental cleanings to our Calgary patients, which remove stains and polish your teeth for a bright and beautiful smile!
Call Now
To find out more about our dental cleanings or to receive advice on how to improve your dental hygiene routine, contact our NW Calgary dentists today at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.
