Did you know that 47.2% of Americans age 30 and older have gum disease? Also, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease for American children. These statistics highlight exactly why good oral hygiene and regular preventive care—like seeing your Northville dentist every 6 months—are non-negotiable.
Here are our 15 essential oral hygiene tips to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile right here in Northville, Michigan.
Daily Care & Technique
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Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day We recommend brushing for at least 2 minutes each time. This removes dental plaque, the invisible film of bacteria that produces acid and attacks your enamel and gums. To brush properly, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gums and use gentle, small circular strokes. Make sure you cover all inner, outer, and chewing surfaces.
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Brush Your Tongue or Use a Tongue Scraper Finish your routine by gently brushing or scraping your tongue twice a day to eliminate bacteria and combat bad breath.
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Floss Your Teeth Once a Day Plaque hides between your teeth, leading to cavities where your brush can’t reach. Use about 18 inches of floss, guide it to the gum line, and gently pull it into a C-shape against each tooth, using up-and-down motions.
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Choose the Right Toothbrush Whether you choose a manual or electric toothbrush, always select one with soft bristles. Hard bristles can damage your enamel and gums over time. The brush head should be small enough to comfortably clean around your molars.
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Clean Your Toothbrush Rinse your toothbrush with tap water after use and shake off excess moisture. Allow it to air dry. For health reasons, never share your toothbrush.
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Use a Fluoride Mouth Rinse Fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel, increasing its resistance to acid attacks. Look for a rinse labeled antimicrobial or antigingivitis. If you’re interested, ask one of our dentists in Northville for a recommendation tailored to your needs. (Note: Children age 6 or younger should not use fluoride mouth rinse.)
Preventive Visits & Habits
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Don’t Skip Teeth Cleanings If plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can remove. Your regular teeth cleaning at our Northville office includes an exam and potential X-rays, allowing us to catch issues like a small cavity before it turns into an emergency root canal. We recommend a visit at least every 6 months.
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Don’t Smoke Smoking significantly increases your risk for oral and throat cancer. It also impairs the body’s natural healing ability, which can complicate recovery after any dental procedure.
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Apply a Lip Balm with SPF Especially if you spend time outdoors, protect your lips from UV rays with an SPF lip balm to reduce the risk of lip cancer.
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Limit Sugary and Starchy Foods The “fuzzy” feeling on your teeth after eating is plaque feeding on food particles. Plaque thrives on sugary and starchy snacks, so limiting these and brushing/flossing after meals helps keep your smile healthy.
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Drink Water Instead of Sugary Beverages Sugary drinks, especially sodas, are often both sugary and acidic. This combination wears away enamel, increasing your risk of sensitivity and cavities. Water is always the best choice!
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Avoid Late-Night Snacks Always brush and floss before bed. If you snack right before sleeping, you must repeat your cleaning routine. Otherwise, bacteria will feed on those particles and attack your teeth and gums all night long.
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Don’t Chew Ice Chewing ice regularly can damage your tooth enamel (the protective outer layer). Once enamel is compromised, your risk of cavities and sensitivity to heat and cold increases.
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Don’t Use Your Teeth as a Tool Avoid using your teeth to open bottles, tear packages, or hold items. These habits wear down enamel, or worse—they can cause you to chip a tooth or damage a porcelain veneer or crown.
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Chew Sugarless Gum After Meals Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva production. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense mechanism; it washes away food particles and helps neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque.
Schedule Your Appointment with Gasior Family Dental
Dr. Andrew Gasior and the team at Gasior Family Dental believe strongly in the power of preventive dentistry. The better you care for your smile, the longer you’ll enjoy healthy teeth and gums.
To schedule your next teeth cleaning with one of our experienced dentists in Northville, MI, call Gasior Family Dental at (248) 348-7997. We look forward to seeing you!