As the spring of the year approaches, you have challenged yourself to step up your oral care efforts. Therefore, you want to know what you can do to improve your dental hygiene between visits to your local professional for preventive dentistry. Thankfully, your dentist in Bellingham has some simple tips that’ll help you get on the right track!

What You Should Do Between Visits

There are two main pillars to your oral health: your dental hygiene and preventive dentistry. Let’s look at the different aspects of your oral hygiene that will work in tandem with your visits to your dentist:

• Brushing Your Teeth – When it comes to your oral health, your nemeses are bacteria. They seek to cling to your teeth and gums and feed on leftover foods so that they can grow exponentially and cause damage. Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush is one of the key ways to remove these cretons from your mouth. You should brush a minimum of two times a day.
• Flossing – It may seem like brushing your teeth is enough to remove leftover debris and bacteria, but it only covers 60% of the surface of your teeth. The only way to address the remaining 40% is with dental floss, because of its ability to weave and maneuver into tight places. You should floss at least twice a day as well.
• Healthy Eating – As odd as it may seem, your eating habits could indirectly be considered as part of your oral hygiene routine. Consuming more fruits and vegetables contributes to a more alkaline state in your mouth – one that less of the harmful bacteria can survive in. It also fortifies the enzymes in your saliva, which in turn coats and strengthens the enamel of your teeth.
• Tobacco Avoidance – When you make the decision to avoid tobacco use, you are eliminating a big threat to your oral health. It has absolutely no benefits to any aspect of your oral or overall wellness. Furthermore, it causes bad breath, teeth staining and can lead to many forms of cancer.

A Pleasant Visit to Your Dentist

Many people fail to visit their dentist because of feeling ashamed of the condition of their mouth, teeth and gums. Thus, they miss out on the benefits of a thorough cleaning, tedious examination and expert advice.

But if you are applying the above protocols for what to do between visits, you don’t have to be intimidated by the thought of visiting your local dentist. Conversely, you will feel confident and excited about the chance to further enhance your oral health.

No Judgement

Wherever you may fall on the oral care spectrum, your dentist offers no judgement – just the care you need to get back on track. So reach out today to schedule your first appointment!

About the Author

Dr. Ronald A. Moreno earned his dental degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry and then went on to spend five years in the Army Dental Corp. A skilled professional with a heart for helping every patient, Dr. Moreno can be reached for more information through his website.