5 Ways to Practice Oral Care from Your Dentist in Phillipsburg

If you already brush daily, you’ve already on the right track to having a good oral care routine. However, there are so many ways you can elevate that routine and keep your smile in check for a lifetime. Not only is that a life filled with more smiles, but also less oral disease and less money spent on expensive restorative treatments.

To get you started, here are five ways from your dentist in Phillipsburg to bring your habits to the next level.

Know Your Oral Health Needs

While the ADA recommends a specific minimum for oral care, some patients are going to need more care than others. For example, pregnant woman will need to visit the dentist more often for checkups because of their weakened immune system. This leaves them more vulnerable to infections which can easily occur in the mouth.

Additionally, if you’re taking medications that cause chronic dry mouth, you may need to brush more often or use an oral rinse throughout the day. If you have braces, cleaning your mouth may be more difficult, and so on.

Commit to a Daily Oral Health Routine

The ADA recommends patients brush at least twice a day for two minutes a day, floss once a day, and see their dentist every six months. Make sure you don’t skip any of these habits and leave yourself vulnerable to plaque buildup.

Even if you forget to brush in the morning, you can easily make up for it once you get back home from school or work that evening. For additional protection, floss before bed so that food particles and plaque don’t sit in your mouth all night.

Limit Sugary Snacks and Eat a Balanced Diet

Sugar is the main trigger for plaque production because it’s what bacteria in your mouth love to consume. This plaque buildup can eventually turn into tartar, a hardened, more difficult form of plaque that needs to be removed by a professional.

Instead, keep track of your daily meals and assess whether they are balanced enough. A balanced diet promotes saliva production and works better to remove plaque from your teeth than snacks.

Kick the Tobacco Habit for Good

Any form of tobacco, whether it’s smoked or chewed, is detrimental to your oral health. It’s been proven to increase your risk of oral cancer, tooth decay, gingivitis, and its more advanced form periodontitis. It also stains your teeth and causes chronic bad breath.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

By visiting your dentist in Phillipsburg every six months, they can provide a professional cleaning that no at-home care can match. They’ll be able to reach the areas you miss while brushing and catch any other issues an untrained eye can’t see. This includes early signs of oral cancer, which your dentist checks for during every dental exam, so don’t skip it!

You can’t go wrong with advice from dentist in Phillipsburg! Schedule your next appointment with them today for a professional cleaning!

About the Author

Dr. Jeffrey R. DeMartino earned his DMD Doctorate from Fairleigh S. Dickinson School of Dental Medicine. Since then, he’s been named one of the “Top Dentists of America” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America not once, but twice, proving his commitment to dental care for his patients. To learn more about his practice, contact him at (908) 859-5260 or visit his website.