Maintaining a healthy smile depends on what happens between your visits with us. Anyone committing to carving out a few minutes daily can establish good home care habits. Like regular exercise, consistency is critical to building a healthy habit. Brushing twice daily for at least two minutes and flossing once daily is the standard for proper at-home oral hygiene care.
With so many products on the market today, it can be confusing to sort it out alone. Your hygienist can help narrow your options and form a plan with personalized tools that’ll work best for you and your dental needs. Will an electric toothbrush help keep your mouth cleaner between professional visits? Would a prescription toothpaste help reduce plaque based on your unique chemistry? Many factors that fit into a plan maximize the time and effort to keep your smile healthy.
Patients at high risk for dental problems may benefit from even more individualized routines. Simple, inexpensive substitutions can transform the environment of your mouth and dramatically reduce disease activity. For example, Xylitol is a naturally derived sweetener that can minimize cavities in children and adults when used in the proper dosages.