Amherst Dentist Discusses Improving Dental Hygiene
Improving dental hygiene along with practicing good nutrition is the foundation to preventing gum disease and maintaining optimal oral health. The primary goal of improving dental hygiene is to prevent plaque buildup that may cause tooth decay or gum disease but did you know it is also vital to your overall health and wellness? Many people have been unable or unwilling to return to the dentist during this COVID-19 pandemic so Dr. Douglas Hamill wanted to provide patients with some tips on improving dental hygiene at home. If you or someone you love is in need of a dental check-up, please contact us today to arrange a free consultation.
Our offices are fully reopened and we are seeing patients for any type of oral health need. Contact us today and let Dr. Hamill’s experience work for you.
Are you looking for tips to improve your dental hygiene? Our Amherst dentist walks you through the basics that will help your dental health get better. Here is what you should know.
Brush Your Teeth!
This may sound like a no-brainer, but everyone should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day. If you can, bring a toothbrush to work with you. Also, if you are in the area, you can always stop by our office and get a new toothbrush free of charge. We love seeing our existing patients and meeting new patients. We are always happy to provide free consultations if you have any questions about your oral health or improving dental hygiene.
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Change Your Toothbrush Every 3 Months
At our office, we provide free toothbrushes to our patients at every visit. We see patients here every three to six months and that is the time frame recommended to change your toothbrush. If you recently had a cold or the flu, we always recommend changing your toothbrush sooner. The reason we recommend changing your toothbrush so frequently as the more you use them, the more the bristles get worn and the toothbrushes become less and less effective. We recommend using soft toothbrushes as they are not as harsh on your gums or enamel. Again, we always encourage people to stop in and visit our office to receive a new toothbrush, free of charge.
Improving Dental Hygiene by Regularly Flossing
We always encourage patients to make sure that they floss gently and happily go over proper flossing techniques with our patients. In between every patient’s teeth, you need to floss on either side of the tooth, not just in between. Because the bacteria are removed, I recommend using the floss before you brush, so that the toothpaste goes in between the teeth. Flossing is an important part of improving dental hygiene.
We recommend our patients to floss every day to get in the habit. I often hear from patients that come in and they’ll say they only floss when something is stuck, but we always encourage them to get in the habit of flossing at least once a day, and preferably after every meal. We recommend this because if you do not remove a piece of food for a long period of time, then it can develop into a gum problem or a cavity over time. Once you create a habit of flossing daily, it will be like second-nature and just something you add to your regular daily routine.
If you are working on improving dental hygiene, or have concerns about your oral health, please call our Amherst dentist office today for a free consultation with Dr. Douglas Hamill. With over 20 years of experience serving the Buffalo and Western New York community, he welcomes the opportunity to put a smile on your face.
We hope everyone remains healthy and safe during this pandemic and remind patients to contact us with any oral health concerns or questions related to improving dental hygiene.
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