Three Steps Toward a Great Looking Smile

As your family dentist in Woodstock SE Portland, Oregon Dr. Nguyen wants all of her patients to enjoy a healthy, great looking smile. While you may think of oral health as only having to do with your teeth and gums, how good or bad your oral health actually plays a much larger role in determining your overall health.

Researchers have uncovered a number of connections that link common oral health problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss with a range of chronic health problems that include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and even cancer. What this research suggests is that maintaining our oral health is paramount for enjoying quality health overall.

Fortunately, you can significantly lower your risk for the most common oral health problems by following the steps below.

Brush Twice a Day

Plaque ranks as the primary cause of most oral health problems. A sticky biofilm, plaque accumulates on the surface of our teeth and along the gum line. Plaque uses the sugars we consume to produce harmful acids that slowly erode away tooth enamel. The more plaque that accumulates on our teeth, the more damage it can cause.

Brushing works to remove plaque deposits from our teeth and along the gum line. By brushing once in the morning and again before bed, you help to protect the health of your teeth by removing plaque before it can cause lasting damage.

Our teeth feature many tricky areas that require the right amount of attention. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least two minutes twice a day. Unfortunately, studies by the ADA show that most Americans brush for only one minute a day, just a quarter of the amount of time recommended.

Imagine the results if you spent just a quarter of the time needed to shave, apply makeup, or comb your hair. Would you expect to look your best? Of course not. So why are we then willing to skimp when it comes to such an important habit as brushing?

Make the most of your time spent brushing by spending the right amount of time brushing. The results are well worth the effort.

Floss Daily

Flossing works in tandem with brushing to help fully clean your mouth. That’s because flossing cleans the areas of the mouth a toothbrush cannot reach – between our teeth and below the gum line. While that may not seem like much, the area flossing helps to clean actually represents nearly 1/3rd our total mouths.

If you’re still not convinced of the need to floss, consider that the most likely place for cavities to develop is actually between our teeth. That’s not just coincidence, that’s the result of not flossing enough.

Despite the need to floss, studies conducted by the ADA have found that 49 percent of adults fail to floss daily, with 10 percent not flossing at all. Just like a car needs gas, brushing needs flossing, otherwise your oral health won’t go where you want in the end.

Regular Visits to a Family Dentist in Woodstock

Receiving regular dental care works alongside brushing and flossing to provide your teeth and gums with the support needed to stay looking and feeling their best.

By scheduling regular dental exams, you provide Dr. Nguyen with the opportunity to spot the early signs of decay and disease while these issues are still easily treatable. Frequent cleanings provide our team of gentle dental hygienists with the chance to remove plaque and tartar deposits for the surface of your teeth and along the gum line before they can cause the type of inflammation that leads to gum disease.

When combined with daily habits like brushing, flossing, and eating a balanced diet, you can greatly improve your chances of enjoying quality oral health for a lifetime just by scheduling regular visits to see your family dentist in Woodstock.