In the world of dentistry, October is an important month because it is National Dental Hygiene Month. The month celebrates our dental hygienists who work hard, but also raises awareness about oral health. In the spirit of National Dental Hygiene Month, here are a few, simple ways to ensure your smile is bright and healthy.
GET BACK TO THE BASICS: ORAL HYGIENE
Review your brushing habits. There is a proper way to brush your teeth, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).
- Use a soft tooth brush
- Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle
- Brush back and forth with gentle strokes
- Get the brush to tilt vertically, to brush the inside of your teeth
- Use ADA-accepted toothpaste containing fluoride
“Remember, the ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. If you’re brushing your teeth aggressively, you’ll notice the bristles are no longer straight or look worn out. This is a sign for you to be more gentle on your teeth and when using your tooth brush,” said Dr. Akshay Thusu of Advanced Smile Care.
CHECK OUT HOW YOU’RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH
Your selfie skills can help you improve the way you brush your teeth as Advanced Smile Care discussed in a recent blog post. Researchers in India and the United States studied people recording themselves brushing their teeth while taking video with their cell phones of their brushing tendencies. Participants in this study ended up being more aware of their brushing and changed the way they performed this activity. Their oral hygiene downrange improved as a byproduct of this research.
TIPS FROM OUR DENTAL HYGENIST
One of our dental hygienists at Advanced Smile Care, Joanna Lin, is dishing out great advice. She recommends using a soft-bristled tooth brush or an electric toothbrush to reduce the workload for you and to improve your oral hygiene. Plus, electric brushing is more likely to reduce the pressure of brushing that you might exert on your teeth.
“Another helpful trick is to make sure to keep floss picks in your car. Whenever you’re at a stoplight, instead of texting or looking at your phone, you can pull out a floss pick and floss around to get that floss in daily,” said Lin. “Last but not least, make sure you see your hygienist regularly at least every 6 months and to make sure you get a check-up to make sure there’s no decay and check your overall health as well.”
LOVE YOUR SMILE?
During the month of October, in recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month, the team at Advanced Smile Care is offering a special, $25 discount on one of our favorite whitening kits: Love Your Smile. Love Your Smile comes with a shading guide and a travel kit, and so it is great for that person who is often on the go.
Be sure to ask your hygienist about Love Your Smile if you have an appointment with us during October, or give our team a call at 210-366-3606 to ask us about this whitening kit. Research shows that a great smile makes a remarkable impression and that it is one of the first thing someone notices about you when they meet you the first time.
Call us at (210) 366-3606 and get started
