Basic Dental Care in Yonkers

Good basic dental care is as important as eating right and exercising, perhaps more so. Everything that goes in your mouth gets transported throughout your body, so if you have harmful bacteria in your mouth, it can cause inflammation in your body. Since bacteria can cause inflammation, it’s essential to keep it away from your heart, your brain, and all your other major organs. Research has proven a direct correlation between poor dental health and serious diseases such as dementia, diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks. The following information may help improve your oral hygiene regimen, even if it’s already reasonably good.

Where Does Basic Dental Care Start?

Basic dental care starts when you get out of bed in the morning. Before you stumble to the kitchen for coffee, brush your teeth or use mouthwash so that the night’s accumulation of bacteria in your mouth isn’t carried to your stomach and digested. The American Dental Association recommends the following as a minimum for good dental health:

• Brush twice each day
• Always use toothpaste containing fluoride
• Floss at least once each day
• Schedule an annual checkup and teeth cleaning from your dentist

 These steps are the absolute minimum to ensure good dental health. Ideally, you should brush and floss after each snack or meal. Since that isn’t always feasible, you should rinse your mouth with plain water if you can’t brush and floss. Plain water will remove food particles and bacteria that remain in your mouth.

Consider travel-sized versions of your favorite toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Add some dental floss for extra protection and convenience.

Brushing Twice Daily

Brushing twice each day is the basis of your oral care routine. However, you need to brush correctly to receive the most benefit from it. You need to brush each quadrant of your mouth for at least 30 seconds. The quadrants of your mouth are:

• The upper left side of your jaw
• The lower left side of your jaw
• The upper right side of your jaw
• The lower right side of your jaw

It doesn’t matter which quadrant you brush first as long as each get brushed for a minimum of 30 seconds. This is the best way to remove all food particles that may be lodged between your teeth, as well as the plaque and bacteria that are on your teeth and gums. Proper brushing helps prevent cavities, gingivitis, and decay.

However, you also need to brush with the correct type of toothbrush. Most dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush that has bristles of varying lengths and is correctly sized. The longer bristles can reach between the teeth, while the shorter bristles clean the surface of your teeth. Use gentle pressure, a circular motion, and a back-and-forth stroke for the most effectiveness. Don’t use firm pressure because that can cause striations in your tooth enamel and harm your gums.

Toothbrush Basics

Your toothbrush should be changed every three months. If you’ve been sick, replace your toothbrush as soon as you’ve recovered, so you don’t reinfect yourself. If the bristles become splayed or frayed, then replace your toothbrush. Make sure your toothbrush carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance and is appropriately sized for your mouth. Brushing your tongue is an excellent method for removing additional bacteria, although many people don’t do it.

Toothpaste Basics

Most toothpaste contains fluoride, which is a naturally-occurring mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and fight cavities. Since most municipalities now fluoridate their water supply, some patients are concerned that they may get too much fluoride in their diet. However, municipal water is fluoridated to the minimum level recommended for health, so it’s unlikely that you’ll get too much in your diet. If you’re concerned about this, though, ask your dentist.

Flossing

Flossing should be an integral part of your daily oral health regimen. Dental floss can reach areas that your toothbrush cannot, so it can remove food particles that are lodged between your teeth and gums. It’s also the most portable of the dental hygiene steps so that you can floss almost anywhere. The type you use doesn’t matter, whether it’s the traditional dental floss, floss picks, or a water flosser. It’s primarily determined by personal preference, but if you have questions, ask your dentist. The order doesn’t matter either. Some people prefer to floss then brush, while others prefer to brush then floss. Either way works well as long as you do them both. Ask your dentist if you’re unsure.

Mouthwash Basics

Mouthwash is the final step in your daily oral hygiene regimen, and it can remove residual bacteria and ensure that you have fresh breath. As long as it carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, the brand or flavor is a matter of personal preference.

What Else Can I Do?

The above steps will go a long way towards good dental health, but there are additional steps you can take. For example, consider snacking on fruits and vegetables rather than cookies, candy, and cake. Crunchy fruits and vegetables will help cleanse your mouth, and they’ll be easier on your waistline than high-calorie, sugar-laden snacks. Also, consider replacing sugary drinks with plain water. Even though plain water may be boring, it’s healthier for you and can help keep your body functioning correctly.

Be diligent in your dedication to your oral hygiene. It’s often very easy to skip a step when you’re running late or tired, but your oral health is inextricably linked to your physical health, so skip on something else rather than your oral hygiene regimen.

We Want to Help You Achieve Your Dental Goals

If you have any questions or concerns, we want to hear from you. We’re one of the best dental offices in the area, and we’re sure you’ll be happy with the service you receive.

Does My Yonkers Dentist Offer Basic Dental Care Services?

Our Yonkers office provides basic dental care services as well as most dental procedures. We accept many insurance plans, have transparent pricing, and make it easy to schedule an appointment. If you need to make an appointment for any dental procedure, you can call Saw Mill Dental at (914) 357-8917, you can come to the office in person, or you can schedule online at your convenience using our appointment scheduler. We’ll help you get the dental procedures you need to maintain your good dental health, so contact us today.