Getting Back to the Basics of Dental Hygiene

Routines make up so much of daily life that it's easy to let autopilot take over, but your dental hygiene routine is one place where that habit can work against you. For patients at our Middleburg, VA practice and around Loudoun County, here's how to get more out of the basics.

Brush With the Proper Technique

Brushing seems simple, but plenty of people don't quite have the technique down. A few steps to get the most out of your two minutes:

1. Start at the gumline, angling the brush upward at 45 degrees.

2. Move the brush back and forth in short, tooth-sized strokes.

3. Spend about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth.

4. Brush your gums and tongue too, to clear away odor-causing bacteria.

Brush for the Proper Amount of Time

Most people brush for far less time than they think, often closer to 45 seconds than the full two minutes recommended twice a day. Playing a two-minute song while you brush is a simple, low-effort way to make sure you're actually hitting that mark.

Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after every use, bacteria can collect on it otherwise, and skip the toothbrush cover, which traps moisture and actually creates a better environment for bacteria to grow. Store your brush upright, somewhere it can air dry, and keep it a reasonable distance from the toilet. Closing the toilet lid before you flush is probably the single most useful habit here, since flushing can send a fine spray of aerosolized particles several feet through the air.

Toothbrushes Don't Last Forever

It's easy to lose track of how long you've had your toothbrush. Toothbrushes, or toothbrush heads for electric models, should be replaced at least every three to four months. After you replace yours, set a reminder a few months out so you don't lose track again, and always swap it out after recovering from an illness to avoid reinfecting yourself.

Floss the Correct Way

Flossing can feel like a chore, but skipping it leaves a real gap in your routine, even great brushing alone misses a large share of your tooth surfaces. A few tips for doing it well:

• Use about 18 inches of floss.

• Wind most of it around your middle fingers for better control.

• Hold it tightly between your thumb and index finger and guide it gently between your teeth.

• Curve it beneath the gumline on both sides of every tooth.

• Use a fresh section of floss for each tooth so you're not moving bacteria from one to the next.

Follow With Mouthwash

Mouthwash rounds out the routine nicely: it freshens breath, helps reduce plaque and gingivitis, can ease dry mouth, and clears out particles brushing and flossing might have missed. Some formulas add fluoride for extra protection against decay.

All told, a solid oral care routine shouldn't take more than about 10 minutes a day. That's a small daily investment for a smile that lasts.

Want us to check your technique at your next visit? Schedule an appointment with Middleburg Smiles today.