Best Practices For Healthy Teeth At Home

When you want healthy teeth in Lancaster, PA, you must learn oral care tips to maintain oral health from home. Your mouth impacts your overall health. At LANCO Dental Care, we teach patients ways to take care of their teeth that keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic since a compromised immune system increases your risk for problems with your teeth and gums. We offer important tips for healthy teeth and gums, and healthy eating suggestions that help our patients maintain oral health from home with good oral hygiene. Scheduling regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings enables our team to detect oral health problems early on.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry helps patients in Lancaster, PA minimize the risk of tooth decay or periodontal disease. This is achieved by learning how to brush your teeth properly and understanding the importance of dental floss. At LANCO Dental Care, we approach dental care by creating a healthy mouth that offers patients the best possible overall health. A teeth care routine helps maintain healthy teeth from home.

How to brush your teeth correctly

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially after eating. Replace your toothbrush every few months, after you’ve been sick, or when the bristles begin to look frayed. Use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.

To brush properly:

1. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the gumline.

2. Divide your mouth into four quadrants and focus on each section for at least 30 seconds for optimal brushing.

3. Brush the front, back, and chewing edges of the teeth.

The importance of flossing

Unhealthy gums increase the risk of tooth loss and the need for a root canal in the future. While brushing at least twice daily is important, brushing alone cannot protect someone from developing gum disease. When it’s left untreated, gum disease can lead to receding gums and tooth loss. Harmful bacteria left in your mouth can end up in your bloodstream, leading to serious health problems. This is why it’s so important to have an efficient at-home oral hygiene routine.

To floss correctly, hold your floss with the majority of it around your middle fingers, leaving an inch or two available for your teeth. Hold the floss tightly with your thumbs or index fingers. Place the floss between two teeth and gently glide it up and down the sides of the tooth while curving the floss at the base of the tooth to form a C shape. This allows you to enter the space between the gums and the tooth to remove leftover plaque or food.

Learn how to take care of your teeth properly

At LANCO Dental Care in Lancaster, PA, our team teaches our patients good oral care tips that help them take care of their teeth and gums best from home. By following a good oral hygiene routine, you can maintain your oral hygiene in between your annual dental exam and biannual dental cleanings. To schedule an appointment to learn oral hygiene tips, call our professional dental team today.