Of course we all know how important brushing is in looking after our teeth. But how many of us only do that? The fact is that, for too many of us, oral hygiene begins and ends when we brush our teeth in the morning and again at night. There is more to taking care of your teeth than this, however.
As well as brushing you should also take care to floss. This is the process of pulling thin, dental wire between your teeth to remove the plaque that can lurk there. Brushing alone simply cannot get rid of all the plaque that is in these hard to reach places. Flossing might be a little painful in the beginning if you have not done it before. Your gums are rather sensitive and they may bleed a bit to begin with. But by flossing you are also helping to guard against gum disease which in itself can lead to tooth loss.
Having a healthy diet in the first place can help in the fight against plaque and watching what you eat is not about keeping an eye on your weight and your cholesterol. By eating foods which have less sugar in you are exposing your teeth to less plaque in the first instance so there will be less for you to deal with. You are best off abstaining from activities like smoking tobacco and consuming alcohol excessively as these can harm your mouth too.
Get into the habit of going to see your Central Leeds dentist every six months so that your mouth can be examined by a professional. This is the best way to ensure lasting oral health and proves that dental care goes way beyond simply brushing.
Tags: brushing, oral hygiene, plaque
