Hello, and welcome back to our blog here at Pacific Northwest Periodontics. This is part two of our blog series about oral hygiene tips. Oral hygiene is not only crucial for preventing cavities and bad breath, it’s also essential for preventing gum disease, periodontal disease, and more generally, maintaining the supporting structures of your teeth. Keep reading to learn about some tips for oral hygiene to help you with this.
Use mouthwash
Mouthwash should by no means be an alternative to brushing and flossing. Simply swishing with mouthwash won’t break down plaque like brushing or get in between your teeth like flossing. However, if you’re looking for a little bit more to boost your oral health, swishing with mouthwash once a day can be helpful to eliminate a lot of bacteria.
Avoid snacking before bed
It may be tempting to get in one last cookie or piece of chocolate before bed, but this could be one of the most damaging things you do to your teeth. Not only is it unhealthy for our whole bodies to eat right before bed, but anything that gets stuck to your teeth will be there when you wake up. It’s okay snacking during the day because you can brush your teeth afterward. However, if you eat before bed, you’ll have to wait until morning to brush your teeth. Additionally, when you’re sleeping, you’re less likely to move your mouth around, meaning bacteria will rest on the same place on your teeth throughout the night.
Clean your tongue
Believe it or not, your tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria. When you eat, bacteria is just as likely to get stuck on your tongue as it is your teeth or gums. You can either brush your tongue or use a special tongue scraper. Try to do this once a day before you go to bed.
Visit a dentist regularly
It may seem insignificant scheduling bi-yearly dentist visits. However, getting your teeth professionally cleaned one or twice a year will go a long ways towards protecting your teeth and allowing you to catch any cavities before they happen. Of course, if you’re prudent, you should be fine caring for your own teeth. However, visiting the dentist regularly is a great way to check up on how you’re doing, and you’ll be a lot less likely to let your good oral hygiene habits slide if you do so.
Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontists
Are you looking for an experienced and renowned periodontist in Seattle or the surrounding area? Led by Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Schuler, Pacific Northwest is dedicated to providing high-quality periodontal services for each patient. We use the most advanced dental technology for precise, minimally invasive and comfortable treatment. For diagnostics, we use a state-of-the-art 3D CT scanner which provides 3D images of your jaw and teeth in 360º view. If you’d like more information or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, call us today.
