While brushing and flossing your teeth are essential to having good oral health, there are additional ways that you can improve your at-home dental care. During your visits to AZ Dental, our dentists and team will help you know what else you can use to care for your unique smile. We will also help you know how to properly use your oral hygiene aids in Sunnyvale, California, so your smile can receive maximum results. To know how you can take better care of your smile, we invite you to schedule your appointment with Drs. Hashemi, Lee, McDonald, and Sheth by calling us at 408-738-1000.
Oral hygiene can consist of using a variety of tools to care for your smile at home. As a basis, you should be brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. However, if you want to give your mouth additional protection against harmful bacteria and plaque, you can use several additional oral hygiene aids. Some of these aids include:
- Tongue Cleaners: sometimes, these are attached to the back of your toothbrush head. You can also buy tongue cleaners separately in just about any general market. With a tongue cleaner, you can remove bacteria that causes bad breath.
- Interdental Cleaners: when flossing and brushing cannot reach certain angles between and around your teeth, use an interdental cleaner. These tools are particularly great for older patients who find it difficult to hold a toothbrush or floss.
- Mouth Rinses: mouth rinse can help remove food, kill bacteria, and fight against plaque buildup. To use mouth rinse properly, swish the mouth rinse all round your mouth and between your teeth. This helps remove particles you may have missed while flossing and brushing.
- Oral Irrigators: also known as waterpicks and waterjets, these handheld tools spray a concentrated stream of water. This can gently and effectively clean between your teeth and around your gum line. They can also help clean out pockets that have formed from gum disease, helping maintain your disease an prevent it from spreading.
If you have any questions about additional dental hygiene aids you can use to protect your smile, please feel free to call or visit our office. We are happy to help!
