How to Make Your Dentist Smile

Most dentists will ask to see you for 6-monthly check ups. They will also expect to give your teeth a full clean at these visits. Some people, however, get to hear those magic words from their dentist, 'I don't need to see you for another year'. If you are maintaining high enough standards of dental hygiene and cleanliness at home, your dentist may be happy to leave longer gaps between check-ups. Here are some tips on how to get your teeth the stamp of approval from your dentist.

Floss

Flossing removes plaque, the sticky deposits of food and bacteria between your teeth and gums. Your dentist probably tells you every time you see them to floss regularly. Well, they really mean it and by regularly they mean daily. For best effect, ask your dentist to demonstrate how to floss properly.

If you are flossing every day, but applying too much pressure or using the wrong size dental tape for your teeth, you could actually damage your gums. Keep the floss next to your toothbrush and make it part of your bedtime routine. Don't skip it on nights you are particularly tired or have been out and had a drink; that soon turns into flossing once every few days instead of daily.

Remove Tartar

Coffee, smoking and red wine are known to cause discolouration and staining of your teeth. The truth is, cosmetic purposes aside, stains don't create lasting damage. Tartar, on the other hand, can be a health issue. Tartar is what plaque becomes with time, as it hardens into an extra enamel-like layer on your teeth.

Like plaque, it tends to appear where the teeth meet the gums, particularly on the front teeth. Tartar can cause bad breath and gum disease and the yellowish deposits look unsightly. Tartar is tricky to remove using a toothbrush or floss, so if you notice larger areas of tartar or tartar forming in hard to reach spots, you'll need to see your dentist sooner rather than later.

Brush

Brushing your teeth after meals is recommended, so in the morning, wait until you have had breakfast; don't brush when you first wake up. Brush at the end of the day too. If you use an electric toothbrush, take a break from it for a while and go back to an old-fashioned regular toothbrush, preferably with soft bristles.

You may have picked up lazy bad habits and this will let you improve your technique again. Good tooth brushing is not about how long and how hard you brush for as this can wear down the gums and should be avoided. Instead, ask your dentist for the best brushing technique and duration for your dental needs and work on this.

Hopefully, together, you and your dentist can find ways to make each other both smile! For more tips contact clinics like Belconnen Dental Centre.