Keep Plaque At Bay With Health-Boosting Tips From Our Elmhurst Dentists

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Jan 28, 2015

Keep Plaque At Bay With Health-Boosting Tips From Our Elmhurst Dentists

We know that you are probably already brushing your teeth multiple times a day in order to discourage plaque build up, and that’s great! But our Elmhurst dentists want to help you supercharge your oral hygiene routine, and kill as many of those harmful oral bacteria as possible. If that sounds good to you, keep reading this short article.

So you are brushing twice a day—once in the morning and once at night. This is a great foundation for your oral hygiene routine, because you are regularly buffing away freshly produced plaque.

The thing is, your toothbrush cannot reach those tiny corners and crevices in your mouth. This is why it is so important that you floss at least once a day. We know that many patients skip this recommended step, but we are here to tell you that it is critical to your oral health that you floss. The best plan for most people is to floss at the end of the day, directly prior to brushing.

There is also something that you can do after brushing in order to kill additional bacteria—use a mouthwash. Disrupt and dislodge plaque by flossing, buff it away by brushing, and then rinse your mouth clean with water or with a specially formulated mouth rinse. Most patients will be fine using an over the counter mouth rinse for added oral health protection. If you need more guidance on what type of mouth rinse to use, talk to your dentist for a personalized recommendation.

Right now, brushing is probably the mainstay of your dental routine. By adding just a few extra steps before and after brushing, you can take your oral health to the next level. As always our Elmhurst dentist office is here to help you maximize your oral hygiene routine—contact us for help at your convenience.