How Long Should It Take To Thoroughly Brush Your Teeth?

The effort you put into brushing your teeth can determine how likely you are to develop deposits of plaque and tartar on your teeth. This is not the only effort you take against these harmful materials – you also fight them by flossing – but its is hard to overstate the importance of brushing for your oral health. With that said, how long has it been since you thought about your approach to this part of your oral care routine? People who are surprised to hear that they need work done to treat a cavity can overlook shortcomings in their hygiene habits. One way to check on how effectively you brush is to time yourself. To thoroughly clean your teeth, this should take you at least two minutes. Your Maple Grove, MN dentist’s office provides consistent oral hygiene support through regular dental cleanings and examinations, but what you do between appointments can be critical to controlling plaque, tartar, and cavities.

Brush For At Least Two Minutes To Thoroughly Clean Your Smile

If you want to do a good job brushing, your goal should be to give attention to every area of your smile as you clean your teeth. To do this well, you should give yourself time to work over even the hardest areas of your mouth to reach. If you are not brushing for two minutes when you clean your teeth, you can leave areas without enough attention. This can ultimately lead to concentrations of tartar in these areas that make you more likely to experience tooth decay and gum disease.

Flossing Is Important, Too

Even if you do take the time to thoroughly brush, you can leave yourself exposed to dental trouble if you do not floss. By flossing, you remove food debris and bacteria that are in the spaces between your teeth, where they are capable of causing problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

Benefits Of A Consistent Oral Hygiene Routine

If you want to avoid permanent damage to your tooth structure, you should take cavity prevention seriously. Once decay forms, irreversible damage is done to a tooth, which will require the placement of a dental filling or dental crown. Good oral hygiene protects you from this, and it can also protect you from possible problems with gum disease. Individuals who develop problems with gum disease can have a harder time preventing tooth loss later in life, as the condition can destroy the tissues that support teeth if it is not treated in time.

Your Maple Grove, MN Dentist’s Office Helps Patients Stay In Good Dental Health

At our Maple Grove, MN dentist’s office, we are proud to help patients in our office, and by providing guidance on good oral health behaviors outside it. If you would like to learn more about our services, please call Elm Creek Dental at 763-416-0606.