Does Your Home Oral Care Routine Measure Up?
When was the last time you visited our office for a hygiene examination and cleaning? We recommend that most of our patients visit our office twice a year. However, there are certain patients we like to see more frequently due to other circumstances such as gum disease. While under our care, we ensure that your oral health is in tip top shape or we suggest a treatment to restore the function of your teeth. Because we see you so infrequently each year, the bulk of your oral care lands on your shoulders. Therefore, we want to review the importance of home oral health care. Continue reading to see if you are doing all you can to ensure the longevity of your oral health.
Importance of Proper Home Care
Although we love seeing our patients, we really only see each one for a short time each year, leaving the bulk of the oral health responsibilities to fall on them. Good oral care habits are imperative to ensure that tooth decay, gum disease, and other conditions do not creep into your life. Many patients are also surprised to learn that the state of your oral health can greatly impact your overall health as well. For example, gum disease that remains untreated can lead to inflammation throughout the body, particularly affecting the heart.
How to Care for Your Teeth
The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to make an oral hygiene routine a regular part of the day. Everyone should be thoroughly brushing for at least two minutes twice a day. Dental floss is also a necessity and should be used at least once a day. Dental floss is used to remove lingering food and bacteria that remain between teeth and along the gumline. If you have young children in your household, teaching them these habits early in life will assist with their oral health habits through their teen years and into adulthood.
If you have any questions about the state of your oral health, are in need of a hygiene examination and cleaning, or need to schedule a recommended treatment you have been postponing, be sure to contact our office located in Silverdale, WA. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon!
