The average person rushes through his or her evening dental routine. Most of us spend the evening on the couch watching TV, surfing the web, playing video games or enjoying time with the family. It is awfully difficult to avoid falling asleep in front of the TV, waking up and groggily moving through the motions of the evening dental routine.
Here is a look at how to properly approach your evening dental routine and what that routine should consist of.
You will not be able to perform a thorough clean of your entire mouth unless you are alert. Do not wait until half an hour or less before your scheduled bedtime. Clean your mouth when you are fully awake and more likely to invest at least five minutes in this important portion of your nightly routine. Brushing your teeth, gums and tongue will take upwards of three minutes. Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash will take a couple more minutes.
Use two large pieces of floss for your upper and lower teeth. Wind each used portion of floss around your finger so you do not re-use it between other teeth. Wiggle the floss between the teeth and the gums in a subtle manner. It will help to form the shape of the letter C when flossing between the bottom of the teeth and the gums.
Be mindful of the pressure you apply to your teeth when brushing. Ease up on the pressure and you will dramatically reduce the chances of bloody or sensitive gums. You do not need more than a peanut-sized dab of toothpaste. Hold the toothbrush toward your gum line at a 45-degree angle.
Brush the front, top, back and sides of the teeth for a full two minutes. Do not forget to brush your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, your tongue and your gums. If you do not feel comfortable brushing your tongue with a toothbrush, use a tongue scraper.
Cap off your evening dental routine with mouthwash. Consult with your dentist to pinpoint the ideal mouthwash for your unique oral health needs. Today's mouthwashes have all sorts of added benefits like anti-cavity properties, antibacterial properties, extra fluoride and so on. Swish the mouthwash around for at least 30 seconds each night.
Switch to an electric toothbrush and you will be able to do that much less work at night. Today's electric toothbrushes have built-in timers to ensure you brush for the proper length of time. Furthermore, today's electric toothbrushes do all the cleaning for you.
You simply guide the brush over the teeth and let it work its magic. This is the perfect solution for those who struggle to stay alert during their evening dental routine. You can be half-awake and let the electric toothbrush do the work on your behalf.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with us, call (617) 826-6075. Our dental office is located in Everett. Call GK Dental PC today.
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