Are You Keeping Good Oral Hygiene Habits?

Are you a meticulous brusher and flosser, or do you spend as little time as possible on these important oral hygiene tasks? When you don't oral hygienekeep your teeth clean enough, your risk of tooth decay and gum disease rises. Hilton Head Dental Team in Hilton Head Island, SC, family dentists, Dr. Julie Camp-Tome, Dr. Benjamin Wietecha and Dr. M. Glenn Barker, discuss a few tips that will help you improve your oral hygiene.

Schedule enough time for oral hygiene

If you don't brush for at least two minutes, you may fail to remove all of the built-up plaque on your teeth. Plaque is the transparent, sticky film that causes cavities and makes your teeth feel rough. In addition to causing tooth decay, plaque also plays a role in gum disease. Plaque eventually turns into tartar, a hard deposit that irritates the gums and causes gum disease. Luckily, it's easy to reduce tartar formation with regular brushing and flossing.

Brushing in the morning and evening is the best way to keep plaque under control. Do you sometimes forget to brush or fall asleep before brushing? Setting daily alarms on your smartphone is an easy way to ensure that brushing and flossing never slip your mind again.

Floss every day

Flossing not only removes food particles from the spaces between teeth but also gets rids of plaque. Flossing is most effective when it's done at least once a day. Use gentle, up-and-down strokes rather than sawing motions when you floss. Before you move on to the next tooth, form a "C" with the string or tape and clean the base of the tooth.

Use the proper technique and tools

Brushing too hard or using a hard or worn out brush can erode your tooth enamel and cause receding gums. Tilt the head of your brush at a 45-degree angle and use gentle pressure to remove plaque and surface stains from teeth. When it's time to buy a new brush, choose one with a soft head.

Make regular dental visits a priority

Twice-yearly visits to our Hilton Head Island office will help you keep your smile healthy. After plaque and tartar are removed from your teeth, we'll examine your mouth for signs of problems, such as cavities, damaged restorations or suspicious lumps. Prompt treatment of dental issues is essential and can help you avoid severe decay and tooth loss.

Protect your smile with a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits to our office. Call Hilton Head Island, SC, family dentists, Dr. Camp-Tome, Dr. Wietecha and Dr. Barker, at (843) 681-9666 to make your appointment.

Our Location

We are off the Hilton Head Plantations traffic circle to the right, next to Coastal States Bank.

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:30 am-4:30 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-4:30 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-4:30 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-4:30 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-12:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed