How your dentist in Sebastian, FL, can help you maintain a healthy smile
If you are keeping good oral hygiene habits, it will protect both your smile and your overall health. Did you know that when you keep your mouth healthy, it can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, or having a stroke? In fact, keeping good oral hygiene habits along with regular preventive dental care can help you enjoy a healthy smile and a healthy body.
Dr. Mark A. Peterson at Sebastian River Dentistry in Sebastian, FL, offers a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services to keep you smiling—read on to learn more.
Prioritize your oral health
Keeping good oral hygiene habits doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time out of your day either. In fact, caring for your smile should only take a few minutes. Just remember to:
- Brush after meals and before you go to bed. Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush in a gentle, circular motion, covering all the surfaces of your teeth and along the gumline. You can also use a sonic or electric toothbrush if you wish.
- Floss at least once each day. Brushing doesn’t clean in between teeth—that’s where flossing comes in. Make sure that you wrap the floss around the widest part of your tooth as you floss in between your teeth. The wrapping technique helps keep the floss firmly against the surface of your tooth, so it cleans better.
Keeping good oral hygiene habits is all about removing plaque as thoroughly and frequently as you can. Thorough and frequent plaque removal is important because plaque contains millions of harmful bacteria that produce toxic by-products. These toxins are strong enough to eat through tooth enamel, causing tooth decay. The toxins can also infect your gums and the bone that supports your teeth, causing periodontal disease as a result.
Great oral care that you perform at home can keep you enjoying a healthy smile. To learn more about caring for your oral health and your smile, call Dr. Mark A. Peterson of Sebastian River Dentistry in Sebastian, FL, at (772) 388-3119.