Do you know the absolute best way to hold down your dental care costs?

Take great care of your teeth and gums.

That might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s remarkable how many people won’t invest a few minutes a day in taking care of their mouths. So, in the interest of helping you have your healthiest mouth, here are oral hygiene five habits that people in the Aberdeen, SD area will do well to develop.

  1. Brush and Floss on Schedule

Life is busier than ever these days, so it’s understandable that brushing and flossing twice a day might not happen as often as it should. That’s a problem in the making, though. The true purpose of brushing and flossing regularly is to remove dental plaque before it has a chance to cause problems. That whole whitening thing is a bonus.

Plaque forms when bacteria in our mouths combine with a protein in saliva to form a thin, sticky film. Plaque collects on the gumline around teeth. You can easily remove it by thorough and regular brushing and flossing. And you should, because left alone the bacteria secrete acids that start eating away at tooth enamel and inflaming your gums.

Keep to that twice a day brushing and flossing schedule and you’ll help avoid giving plaque a foothold in your mouth.

  1. Schedule Dental Cleanings and Examinations Twice a Year

Mouths are complicated places, full of tiny nooks and crannies that are hard to see and hard to clean completely. By having cleanings and examinations twice a year, you can avoid problems with plaque building up in those crevices. Your hygienist will remove every trace of plaque, and our doctors can detect the beginnings of any problems before they become problems.

  1. Make Water Your Beverage of Choice

You’ve probably heard that everybody should drink more water for a variety of reasons. But did you know that drinking more water actually helps protect your teeth and gums?

The bacteria that form plaque are usually washed off our teeth and gums by saliva and by the beverages we drink. People who suffer from chronic dry mouth tend to have more dental problems which tells you how important saliva is to oral health. Keeping well hydrated is a good way to promote the flow of saliva, which will help wash away bacteria.

That’s only half of the reason to drink water for oral health. Once plaque forms, decay-causing bacteria use the sugars in our foods and beverages as fuel to begin reproducing. If you have an occasional sugary drink, that’s probably fine, but be sure to follow up with water to remove any remaining sugar from your mouth.

  1. Chew Sugarless Gum

Chewing gum isn’t a short-term thing for most people. The gum, and the sugars it contains, tend to stay in the mouth for many minutes. That’s a lot of sugar and a lot of opportunity for bacteria to feed. Sugarless gum won’t feed those decay-causing bacteria.

  1. Eat Meals, Not Snacks

This isn’t a dietary recommendation, it’s a recommendation for taking care of your teeth and gums. People who snack frequently hardly ever take the time to ensure that food particles are removed from their mouths right afterward. Those food particles are fuel for bacteria, and repeated snacking gives those bacteria a nearly constant energy source. Limit snacks and concentrate more on eating larger meals.

Aberdeen Smiles Will Help You Keep Your Teeth And Gums Healthy

Dr. Drake, and all the staff at Aberdeen Smiles look forward to helping you have a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile. If you’re in the Aberdeen, SD area, contact us to arrange for a dental cleaning and examination. Call 605-277-9049 today for an appointment.