Developing A Good Oral Care Routine

A healthy smile starts with you. What are you doing to keep your smile healthy?

We know that you already have some form of oral care routine in place; however, when was the last time you made changes to the way you care for your smile? Good oral hygiene is paramount to preventing cavities and gum disease, and everything from forgetting to brush before bed to not flossing can affect your oral health. From the office of our Stamford, CT, dentists, Dr. Irina Pogosian and Dr. Thomas Ohlson, let’s look at and provide advice on two of the most important everyday oral care habits we perform,

Brushing

It’s important that you have a good brushing technique if you want to remove food, bacteria, and plaque on and around teeth. Here’s how you should be brushing:

  • Set a timer for two minutes (this is how long you should be brushing each time)
  • Put a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on your toothbrush
  • Angle the brush at about a 45-degree angle with the brush facing the gums
  • Use gentle, circular motions across your teeth
  • Angle the toothbrush vertically to clean the back surface of your teeth
  • Remember to brush your tongue and roof of your mouth

You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day using these tips and techniques above. Also, remember to replace your toothbrush head once the bristles look worn and frazzled (about every 3-4 months). Don’t forget, even if you are the best brusher around, you still need to visit your Stamford, CA, dentist and his team for professional cleanings and care every six months.

Flossing

Just because you know how to brush effectively doesn’t mean that you can skip out on flossing your teeth. Food and plaque can also get trapped between teeth, and even your toothbrush won’t be able to get into these spaces in the same way that floss can. Here’s what you should know about flossing:

  • You should floss at least once a day
  • It’s ideal to save flossing for nighttime, since it gets rid of plaque and bacteria that have built up throughout the day (giving you a clean smile while you sleep)
  • Use a generous amount of floss every time you floss (about 18 inches)
  • Use a clean section of floss between each set of teeth
  • Be gentle when working the floss into these spaces. Do not force or pull the floss out, as this could damage gums or teeth
  • Work the floss around the curve of each tooth, making sure to remove any plaque or food present

Due to Covid-19, our family dentist and his team will only be providing emergency dental care to patients living in and around Stamford, CT, at this time. If you are dealing with a serious toothache or a broken tooth, please call Comprehensive Dental Group at (203) 359-3296.

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Hours of Operation

Monday:

7:30 am-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed