3 Easy Steps to Make Flossing a Habit |
We all know how important it is to floss our teeth daily. Unfortunately, many of us skip it in our daily oral hygiene regimen. The American Dental Association says that flossing is an integral part of maintaining your oral health. Without flossing, bacteria can build up in spaces between the teeth, particularly in areas towards the gumline. Floss and other interdental cleaners, including a water flosser are able to reach the areas that your toothbrush is unable to. This way, you are able to remove bacteria and plaque in order to prevent periodontal disease.
So, how do you make flossing a daily habit? One of the biggest challenges people face in maintaining good oral health is keeping up with flossing. Remembering to floss is, therefore, a major hurdle. But these three easy things can help you cultivate the habit of flossing.
Step 1 is to consider keeping floss everywhere. It could be in your car, bathroom, or even work desk. Although it may seem weird, when you stash floss in such unexpected places, it makes a great way of remembering that you really need to floss. Even if you fail to do it in the morning, you can floss at any time.
Step 2 is to place a sticky note on the toothpaste or your mirror. Keeping a note within the areas where you brush provides a quick way of reminding yourself to floss daily. You don't even need to write anything on the note, just something to trigger the action.
Step 3 is to get comfortable floss because if you have difficulties using a particular type of floss, it will discourage you from flossing. Try a few brands to see which one is comfortable for you. If your teeth are tightly close together, get a thinner floss to ensure comfort.
Talk to our dentist if you find flossing is a challenge.
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After Drinking Lemonade or Red Wine, Can I Brush Immediately?
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Perhaps you are afraid that the glass of red wine you drink will contribute to tooth staining. Although red wine causes teeth discoloration, you are not advised to brush immediately after drinking it.
The American Dental Association tells us to brush after every meal. This is pretty important and we indeed should do so. However, if you've just consumed something acidic such as red wine or lemonade, you need to wait for roughly 30 minutes before brushing. The acids in these drinks cause a temporary weakening of the enamel. If you brush while the acids are active, you could damage your enamel.
Get in touch with us to learn more about keeping your teeth strong and for ways of preventing tooth staining.
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Plaque and Tartar: What Distinguishes Them? |
Often you hear a dentist talk of plaque and tartar and you might ask what they are and what differentiates them. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms in the mouth after we eat food. It contains bacteria that constantly release acids, hence causing damage to the enamel. The sticky biofilm can be removed by simply brushing and flossing.
However, when it remains in the mouth for an extended period, say, more than 24 hours, it hardens into tartar, also known as calculus. Unfortunately, removing tartar is quite difficult because it has already hardened. Only professional cleaning done in our dental office can get rid of this substance.
Contact our dental team to educate yourself on oral health, get treatment, or schedule a dental cleaning.
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