An effective oral hygiene routine starts with brushing your teeth each morning and night with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You also need to remember to floss between your teeth and along the gumline at least once each day.
If you sometimes struggle to brush a specific area, the bacterial deposits that collect on the tooth enamel could gradually develop into a cavity. To help prevent this from happening, you might want to try using an interdental brush.
It is essentially a miniature toothbrush with a tapered brush head. They are typically sold in small packs in the oral hygiene product aisle of most stores. With careful use it can help you clean hard to reach places.
An interdental brush can also help patients with braces who struggle to clean around hardware components. They can be very helpful for removing food particles from spacers and bands.
After you are done brushing and flossing a vigorous rinse with antiseptic mouthwash can help remove loosened food particles while also killing additional oral bacteria. Just make sure that it has earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.
Your regularly schedule dental checkups at H.T. Macon Sapp, DDS also include a professional dental cleaning to remove tartar and other bacterial deposits from your teeth, while monitoring the general health of your mouth. If our dentist notices a problem area, they will explain your treatment options.
If you live in the Durham, North Carolina, area and you have an oral health concern, you should call 919-489-9171 to schedule a dental checkup with Dr. Macon Sapp or Dr. Baxter Sapp.