Dentists are people, too. Believe it or not, there are nights when we are so tired, we’d like nothing better than to just get into bed… without brushing and flossing our teeth. Of course, we never do that because we’ve seen the consequences to patients’ smiles when they skip oral hygiene care at home. In Plano, dental cleaning is imperative in the morning and even more so at night in order to remove the particles of food that bacteria might feed on.
When you sleep at night, you rarely swallow. This is because saliva production decreases during sleep. But because you’re not swallowing, the number of bacteria in your mouth increases. Nighttime oral care helps to eliminate the bits of food that get left behind throughout the day that bacteria can feast on during the night. Your nightly oral hygiene routine should include brushing, flossing and an antiseptic mouth rinse. Continue reading to find out how you can best perform each of these important steps.
Brushing for Oral Hygiene
When you brush your teeth, you not only remove particles of food and debris, but also plaque that has accumulated along the gum line. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles (hard bristles can scratch the enamel surface of your teeth) and a dab of fluoride toothpaste. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth and your gums. This way you’ll be able to brush not only the surfaces of your teeth but also along the gum line.
Begin in the same spot every night and methodically work your way around your mouth. The American Dental Association suggests brushing the outer surfaces first, then the inner surfaces and finally the chewing surfaces. Brush back and forth except for when you’re brushing the backs of your front teeth when up and down is best. Brush for at least two minutes.
Flossing at Night
Think of this: each tooth has five surfaces. There’s the outside, inside and chewing surfaces, but don’t forget the small surfaces in between your teeth. Skip flossing and you miss cleaning two of the five surfaces of your teeth! Flossing removes trapped particles of food as well as plaque that can easily accumulate between teeth.
Use about 18 inches of floss so you can advance to a clean section for each pair of teeth. Guide the floss into position and then press it against one tooth. Move the floss up and down taking care as you meet the gum line. Then do the other tooth before moving on to the next pair.
Finally, rinse with a refreshing and therapeutic mouthwash.
Call the Dentist Near Me in Plano
For more advice on how to maintain your healthy smile during the day and at night, contact Preston Bend Dental, you dentist near me in Plano.
