At Corbin Dental, Drs. Bruce and Richard Corbin help patients maintain their oral health and hygiene. Scheduling routine visits that include dental cleanings and exams help improve patients’ oral hygiene in Oyster Bay or Bayside, NY. They use the latest in dental technology to find dental problems and teach patients about preventative steps they can take at home. Fighting dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease starts with at-home oral hygiene.
Common Oral Hygiene Mistakes
There are multiple mistakes that patients can make when brushing or flossing their teeth. Learn how to avoid these mistakes so your teeth and gums remain healthy.
Not Using Fluoride
Some patients have used “natural” or homemade toothpaste instead of toothpaste containing fluoride. These toothpaste can be abrasive to the teeth and can wear down the gums and tooth enamel. Toothpaste that contains fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth decay.
Only Brushing Teeth
A common mistake is focusing solely on the teeth and avoiding the gums. Plaque can easily accumulate on the gums and can lead to inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Gently brushing the gums removes buildup and can prevent gingivitis from developing into periodontitis, or gum disease.
Using The Wrong Type of Floss
If one type of floss feels uncomfortable to use, you have a wide variety of choices. String floss, interdental cleaners, and water flossers are all effective types of floss. Interdental cleaners are similar to brushes and can easily clean large spaces between the teeth. Water flossers like a Waterpik can benefit patients with braces or sensitive teeth.
Brushing Too Hard
Brushing the teeth aggressively can damage the tooth enamel and even wear down the teeth. It is important to be gentle when you brush your teeth. It doesn’t require a great deal of pressure to effectively remove particles from the surface of your teeth.
Not Brushing Long Enough
We recommend that patients brush their teeth for a full two minutes. It is especially important to teach children to brush their teeth for this length of time. Using a timer or electric toothbrush with music can make the process more fun!
Schedule a Dental Appointment
Do you need to brush up on your oral health? Request a consultation at our dentist office in Bayside at (718) 395-3458, and our Oyster Bay office at (516) 922-5888.