This holiday season, consider sprucing up your smile by caring for your teeth and gums. Your smile’s enemy is acid in your mouth, as it forms into plaque and calculus on your teeth and gumline. This soft, sticky film contains millions of bacteria which can lead to gum disease, loose teeth, and bad breath if it is not removed every day. At our dental practice, Drs. Dan and Nicole Holmes recommend the following oral care for our patients in Fort Collins, Colorado and the surrounding communities:
Brushing
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Use the right size toothbrush for your mouth, and use the softest bristles you can to do the job to protect tooth enamel and gum tissue. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle and use short up-and-down strokes to clean your teeth.
ADA Approved Products
Use ADA-approved products to ensure safety and effectiveness. Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or so when your bristles become frayed. If you are prone to gum disease, it may help to use an electric toothbrush with smaller heads to remove plaque. Fluoride toothpaste can strengthen your enamel, and toothpaste for sensitive teeth can reduce tooth sensitivity. If you have children, encourage them to brush by using fun flavors to help establish a healthy cleaning routine. Children’s toothpaste comes in strawberry, bubblegum, and even anti-cavity chocolate.
Flossing
Gum disease afflicts 64.7 million Americans (reported by the CDC), and essentially, it is an infection of gum tissue, which can cause tooth loss if left untreated. Don’t forget to floss at least once a day. Flossing removes plaque and food particles in between the teeth and under the gumline. Whether waxed or unwaxed, flavored or plain, multifilament or monofilament, flossing reaches those areas your toothbrush just can’t.
Spruce up your smile this holiday season by giving yourself the gift of oral hygiene–brushing, flossing, and using ADA-approved products for your smile. To schedule your next checkup and cleaning, please call 970-221-2499 in Fort Collins, Colorado today. Drs. Dan and Nicole Holmes at our practice are here to help you maintain your healthy, confident smile!
