Visiting your dentist regularly is one of the easiest, most effective ways to maintain good oral health. Not only do these visits ensure you get a professional cleaning twice a year, but they give a team of trained professionals the opportunity to check out what’s going on in your mouth and identify any small problems that are easy to treat, like small cavities, chips, or early-stage gingivitis before they develop into larger problems like a broken tooth, a dental abscess, or periodontitis.

These visits are extremely important, but they’re not the only way of prioritizing your oral health. We’ve put together this handy list of tips to help you build a thorough, consistent, home-based oral hygiene routine to keep your mouth healthy in between dental visits.

1. Be consistent with your brushing

Brush your teeth twice each day, for two minutes each time. Keeping track of the time can be a challenge for some, so many people opt to divide their mouth into quadrants (upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right) and count to 30 while cleaning each quadrant.

Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in a gentle, circular motion.

If you’re a parent, getting your children accustomed to this routine can be easy if you make it fun. Here is a song used by many parents to sing with their children while they brush their teeth.

2. Floss every day

Flossing is the best way to remove food debris and bacteria that can get caught and build up in between the teeth. These areas are hard to reach with a toothbrush, so taking the time to get in there with floss is a great way to keep these areas clean, prevent plaque from accumulating, and reduce the chance of tooth decay.

Flossing is a step that many people skip from time to time, but it only takes two minutes a day. To help you remember to floss, keep a roll in a convenient spot that’s hard to miss. Some people like to keep a package of floss near their couch, so when they sit down on the couch to watch tv at night they’re reminded of this simple but important activity.

3. Replace your toothbrush regularly

Toothbrushes aren’t made to last forever. When you notice the bristles on your brush begin to lose shape, or the little blue indicator line on your toothbrush drops lower than the half-way point, it’s time to replace your brush. Most toothbrushes last about 3 to 6 months.

Taking care of your teeth at home will make your dental visits with Caledon Dentist quicker and more comfortable, and reduce the likelihood of developing issues with your oral health. If you’re ready for your next check-up, call our team at Caledon Dental Centre to schedule an appointment today.