The New Year is a perfect time to reevaluate your health and wellness habits. If you wish to improve your oral health this New Year, Dr. Amy Farmer would like to help. In this blog post, the dentist in Longmont, shares a few easy-to-keep resolutions that can help brighten your teeth and improve your oral health.
Learn How to Properly Brush Your Teeth
Brushing twice a day is simply not enough to ensure good oral health. A proper brushing technique must be used. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following steps:
- Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gums.
- Using gentle and short (tooth-wide) strokes, move your toothbrush back and forth onto the outer surfaces and chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth by tilting your toothbrush vertically. Use up-and-down strokes.
Don’t forget to floss! Gently slide the floss between the teeth. Using a letter “C” motion, move the floss up and down between each tooth, including your back molars.
Schedule a Routine Dental Checkup
Many dental conditions show no early symptoms, making routine checkups essential for maintaining oral health. During your routine checkup, your dentist can thoroughly clean your teeth and gums, check for cavities and other oral health problems, and make recommendations on how to improve your dental health. The ADA recommends you schedule a routine dental exam and cleaning every six months. If you had a routine checkup within the last six months, it’s not too early to call your dentist and schedule your next appointment. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar!
Swap Sugar Gum for Sugarless Gum
According to research, chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay. This is because chewing gum increases the flow of saliva, helping to wash away food particles and other debris and neutralize acids produced by bacteria. While gum containing sugar also increases saliva flow, the sugar in the gum helps stimulate acids that promote tooth decay. When choosing chewing gum, look for one with the ADA seal.
Whiten Your Teeth with Dr. Farmer
Do you already follow these oral health habits but still have yellow or dull-looking teeth? A professional teeth bleaching treatment with Dr. Farmer can help you get the dazzling smile you desire. Dr. Farmer uses the KöR in-office teeth whitening system, which employs a topical whitening agent that lifts stains and whitens teeth. The KöR in-office teeth whitening system can remove the most stubborn stains and discoloration caused by tobacco use, dark-colored beverages and foods (e.g., wine, coffee, beets and curries), prescription medication, tooth infections and injuries, and the natural aging process.
To learn more about the KöR in-office teeth whitening system, or to schedule a routine dental checkup, please call Dr. Farmer’s office at (303) 776-1480.
