At Home Dental Care
Taking Care of Your Smile at Home
While regular visits to the dentist are crucial, taking care of your teeth at home is even more important. Jeffrey A. Stratford-Jones is here to help you develop a top-notch oral hygiene routine that will keep your smile in excellent condition. Our patients in Santa Barbara and Goleta, CA use these techniques on a daily basis to maintain exemplary oral health. Learn more about how you can get that fresh-from-the-dentist clean every day.
Follow This Basic Guide to Oral Hygiene
If you’ve struggled with oral hygiene in the past, never fear. It’s not too late to take care of your teeth! Our team has developed a simple guide to daily oral hygiene. Be sure to start and end your day with the following process:
- Brushing: Brush your teeth at least twice a day, or ideally, after each meal. Use a soft bristle brush, and be sure to reach the inner and outer sides of the teeth, as well as the biting surfaces. Don’t forget to brush your tongue! We recommend an electric toothbrush for best results.
- Flossing: Floss at least once a day to clean plaque from between the teeth and under the gumline. Use 12 to 16 inches of floss and insert it between the teeth using a sawing motion. Curve the floss into a “C” shape to remove any buildup along the gums.
- Rinsing: Thoroughly rinse your mouth after brushing and flossing. If you can’t brush after a meal, it’s a good idea to at least give your mouth a good rinse.
How to Properly Brush Your Teeth
Even those who brush twice a day every day may not be getting the most out of their oral hygiene regimen. Make sure you’re brushing properly with our quick tips:
- Brush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet
- Brush in small circular motions
- Don’t scrub or brush too hard, as this can damage the enamel
- Focus on the surfaces of the back teeth, but don’t neglect the rest of the teeth’s surfaces
- Brush your tongue
Boost Your Hygiene With These Products
Besides regular brushing and flossing, there are several other ways you can enhance your dental hygiene. Browse any drugstore, and you’ll find an array of products that can better rinse your mouth or remove pesky bacteria. You may want to purchase an interdental cleaner, which uses tiny brushes to clean the contours of the teeth. Oral irrigators and rubber tip stimulators can also be effective for removing additional plaque and debris. Mouth rinses are popular choices for suppressing bad breath and reducing cavities.