The American Dental Association advocates an effective and consistent daily oral hygiene regimen to prevent cavities and gum disease. A good dental health routine consists of brushing your teeth for two minutes each morning and evening and flossing your teeth at least once a day.
Ideally, you want to brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mildly abrasive fluoridated toothpaste. Over time, the bristles on your manual toothbrush can gradually wear down and/or flatten. When the bristles are damaged, or worn, you will not be able to brush effectively. To make sure you are effectively removing sugar residue, plaque buildup, and residual food particles from the surfaces of your teeth, the ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.
It’s also important to keep in mind when you are shopping new toothbrush to look for the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance. The small logo on the package indicates that the product has been tested and approved and that it has been proven both safe and effective.
If you are in the Gilbert, Arizona, area and you have concerns or questions about your daily oral hygiene regimen you should call 602-492-9003 to schedule a dental checkup with one of our experienced dentists, Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Monohan at Artistry in Dentistry. We look forward to helping you with your oral care needs.