But what is included in a proper dental care routine? In this article, we discuss the key elements of an effective routine, including personal care and professional procedures, such as oral exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatments.

 

What Is Included in a Proper Dental Care Routine?

 

At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine

A proper at-home daily oral hygiene routine is the most crucial step in preserving your oral health. Even if you visit your dentist regularly, some oral health issues are likely to appear if you do not effectively remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums on a daily basis. An effective at-home oral hygiene routine should include the following steps:

• Start your routine with a water flosser. This device can loosen and remove plaque and food residue, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the subsequent steps in your routine. It can be especially helpful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in the mouth and along the gumline. However, a water flosser should be used in addition to traditional flossing and brushing, not as a replacement for them.
• Floss with a traditional flossing thread or use floss threaders or interdental brushes if this is more convenient. Be gentle and avoid harming your gums by pushing the floss too deeply.
• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, as fluoride helps remineralize and strengthen your teeth’s enamel. Choose a soft or medium brush that is effective at removing plaque without harming your gums when cleaning along the gumline.
• Unless recommended otherwise by your dentist, avoid toothpaste with abrasive ingredients (such as soda or charcoal) as they can harm the enamel of your teeth.

 

Professional Dental Cleanings

Unfortunately, some plaque might accumulate on your teeth over time, even if your at-home routine is very good, especially in hard-to-reach areas in the mouth or if you have crooked or crowded teeth. If not removed in time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar, which is impossible to remove without special dental instruments. If not removed, plaque and tartar can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Undergoing professional cleanings twice a year helps prevent tartar buildup, along with many other negative consequences and complicated and costly treatments.

 

Professional Fluoride Treatments

You can get professional fluoride treatments after cleanings. Fluoride solutions used in a dental office are more potent than over-the-counter products and can give a significant boost to the health and strength of your teeth’s enamel.

 

Oral Exams

An oral exam is typically performed as part of professional cleanings and is necessary to spot any potential issues before they become more severe. Additionally, your dentist may recommend occasional scans or X-rays to ensure the health of the roots and pulp of your teeth.

 

Timely Treatments

Needless to say, the earlier you address any oral health issue that might occur, the more effective (and less expensive) the treatment will be. For instance, a dental filling is significantly less expensive than a root canal therapy and preserves more of the tooth’s structure. Another example is gum disease, which can be treated entirely only in its early stage, called gingivitis, and becomes chronic if not addressed in time.

We recommend scheduling an appointment with your doctor as soon as you notice the first symptoms of cavities or gum disease to avoid complicated and time-consuming treatments in the future.

 

Improve and Preserve Your Oral Health with Baseline Dental

Do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at Baseline Dental. Our specialists are equipped with state-of-the-art tools, knowledge, and modern methods to offer reliable results to each client. We are looking forward to your visit.