Keeping up with good oral care habits will keep your smile in good shape. That means brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, eating healthy, and visiting the dentist for regular checkups. Unfortunately, a recent study showed that about 37 percent of adults make it a daily habit. But if you want to prevent cavities, gum disease, and even bad breath, you want to make sure you’re flossing at least once a day. In this blog post, we’ll go over all the benefits of flossing and how to make sure you are doing it correctly.
Understanding the Benefits of Flossing
Flossing gets rid of food particles stuck between your teeth and in your gumline. While brushing does do a good job of getting good particles and plaque, it won’t reach the in-between places like flossing. Here a few benefits of maintaining a regularly flossing routine:
- Removes Plaque – Flossing helps remove plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth and can cause gum disease.
- Prevents Gum Disease – By getting rid of the food particles in and around your gumline, you are preventing the inflammation that can lead to gum disease.
- Reduces Bad Breath – Getting rid of the food and bacteria from your teeth can help improve your breath.
- Protects Against Cavities – Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque from hard-to-reach areas between teeth, reducing the risk of cavities.
- Saves Money – By flossing regularly, you can prevent dental problems that would normally require expensive treatments.
- Promotes Overall Health – Poor oral hygiene has been linked to several health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and other systemic health issues. Flossing regularly keeps these issues at bay and can have a positive impact on your overall health.
How to Floss Correctly
In order to get the most benefits from flossing, you want to make sure you are doing it the right away. Here’s how:
- Start with about 18 inches of floss and guide it gently between your teeth using a rubbing motion.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of your tooth with the floss, moving the away from the gum with up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth, making sure to use a fresh section of floss for each tooth. Don’t forget to floss behind your back teeth as well.
- Once you’re finished, rinse your mouth out with water. Follow up with brushing your teeth to make sure you have gotten rid of the materials you picked up while flossing.
Want more personalized tips about your oral care routine? Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your next checkup in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
Your smile is one of your most noticeable features! So, why shouldn’t it look its best? We love helping patients feel confident about their smile. We’d love to do the same for you! Considering the problems you want to fix, you may consider:
- Getting rid of stains with teeth whitening
- Covering dental flaws with veneers or bonding
- Straightening your teeth using one of our several orthodontic solutions, including Invisalign
- Even out pointy or rough-edged teeth with teeth contouring
Find out what we can do for your smile! Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
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Is bad breath bringing you down? Even though there could be a variety of reasons for this problem, we wanted to share a few tips on how you can get rid of breath:
- Brush your tongue
Your tongue harbors a lot of germs! You don’t want to skip brushing this important part of your mouth. If you have an easy gag reflex, look yourself in the eye in front of the mirror while brushing your tongue. Doing so will prevent you from going too far down your tongue, which can trigger your gag reflex.
- Chew gum after eating.
Once you are done with your meal, grab yourself a stick of chewing gum. Not only does it get rid of food particles left in your mouth, it can also freshen your mouth. Of course, brushing your teeth is ideal, but you don’t want to do it too soon. Especially if you have had anything acidic. So, grab some chewing gum for more immediate relief.
- Drink plenty of water.
Dry mouth is often the culprit for bad breath. Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day. If it’s a chronic problem, you’ll want to come in for an appointment. We can recommend certain products that you can use at home.
If your bad breath persists, it may be the result of an underlying oral health issue. Just watch this video by the ADA:
You can’t always get rid of bad breath on your own. So, call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
If your child feels like taking care of their teeth is a drag, we’re here to help. Today, we’re sharing ways you can get your child excited about oral health. Here are a few tips:
- Teach them about its importance.
It always helps to learn why you need to do something. Read a few books about teeth with your child that teach the important role that teeth play in their mouth. Consider The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss or The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Both will expose your child to the importance of teeth in a fun and informative way!
In addition, we also have a fun video you can watch with them that shares fun facts about teeth:
- Make it a fun experience.
There’s no reason for teeth brushing and flossing to be boring. Make it fun by letting them choose a fun toothbrush. It can be their favorite character or play music! Deciding on their favorite flavor of toothpaste can also make it more enjoyable. Letting them have a choice gives them a sense of control over the responsibility.
- Use a reward chart.
Get a reward chart for your child and have them track every time they brush or floss. When they get to a certain number, give them a prize! It could be a small toy or a visit to their favorite place. Rewarding them for this behavior will encourage them to continue it easily.
If your child hasn’t had their checkup scheduled, bring them in for an appointment! We see children ages 3 and up. We’d love to get them excited about oral health in Charlotte, NC. Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule a visit or you can online.
Do you start your day with a morning cup of coffee? If so, you’ve probably noticed stains on your teeth. We wanted to share tips on how you can enjoy your brew with minimal teeth staining.
Don’t forget! Brushing your teeth can only do so much. If you want professionally whitened teeth, we can help. We have in-office and at-home whitening for you to choose from. You can also resist stains by getting veneers!
Explore your cosmetic options by calling Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
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April is Stress Awareness Month. It’s a good time to remind you that stress doesn’t just affect you mentally. It affects your body too – and that includes your mouth. Awareness is the first step in preventing negative effects. But we’re sharing some specific ways to stop stress from hurting your smile.
If you have questions or need to make an appointment, give us a call at 704-285-0846 to visit our Charlotte, NC office. In the meantime, check out our tips:
- Don’t Neglect Oral Hygiene – Stress can cause your self-care routines to suffer. That may include daily brushing and flossing. Still, it’s important to keep up with oral hygiene. If not, you may develop cavities and other issues. Left untreated, those issues can turn into more serious – and stressful – problems like a dental infection and even tooth loss. Make sure you continue to brush and floss. If you’ve been neglecting those practices, it’s a good idea to schedule a cleaning and exam. We’ll get your mouth back into shape!
- Stay on Top of Gum Health – Stress affects your body’s ability to fight off infection and disease, including gum disease. Unfortunately infected gums can not only cause you to lose teeth and bone, they can provide a way for bacteria to get into your bloodstream. This can lead to more widespread health concerns. If you notice any signs of disease like tender or bleeding gums, see us right away. Treating gum disease in its early stages keeps it from reaching this harmful stage.
- Get a Mouthguard for Teeth Grinding – Many people have a stress-related habit they may not even know about because it happens while they sleep. If you wake up with a sore jaw or headaches, you may be grinding your teeth at night. This can lead to TMJ problems or to dental damage like chipped and cracked teeth. We can fit you for a custom-made mouthguard that will stop the grinding.
- Stay Hydrated – Stress also often causes dry mouth. This is a problem, since a lack of saliva leads to more bacteria in your mouth. And bacteria make you more susceptible to many dental problems, including cavities and gum disease. Make an effort to drink more water. You can also chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free mints to spur saliva production. Pick products with xylitol, which has cavity-fighting properties.
- Use Stress Reduction Strategies – Finally, it’s important to develop some strategies to deal with the root causes of your stress. This will improve your dental health and your overall health too. This short video offers some simple but effective ideas for dealing with stress.
Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your next appointment. Let us help you stop stress from hurting your smile! You can also schedule an appointment online.
The season may have already begun, but it’s never too late to protect your child’s smile during spring sports.
You may have started off with a boil-and-bite mouthguard, but chances are that it’s somewhere at the bottom of your child’s gym bag already. Mass-produced guards found in stores aren’t customized to fit snugly and comfortably the way our athletic mouthguards are made in Charlotte, NC.
If they don’t wear it, what good is protective gear? That’s why comfort matters, and that only comes from a dentist who can take precise measurements of your child’s mouth so they get the best protection against dental injuries.
Call Charlotte Dentistry now at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
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You can’t avoid every dental emergency, but you can certainly reduce your chances of experiencing them all the time by taking a few simple precautions.
Watch today’s video for some helpful tips on how you can avoid accidents that affect your teeth and gums.
And remember who to turn to for urgent dental care when accidents do happen. We can relieve pain from toothaches and solve your unexpected dental problems with same-day restorative care in Charlotte, NC.
Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 for an emergency appointment. You can also online.
It’s wedding season, but before you walk down the aisle, make sure your smile is picture-perfect!
Our dental veneers are customized to your desired preferences so your teeth are just the right size, shape, length, and color. If you want to unveil a gorgeous smile for your spring wedding and for the many anniversaries that follow, veneers offer stunning results quickly, sometimes in as few as two appointments!
Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. You can also online.
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