5 Best Practices for Maintaining Healthy Teeth and Gums at Home

You’ve heard it before—schedule a dental cleaning at least once a year for healthy, beautiful teeth. But have you ever wondered what best practices you can do right at home? Lucky you—that’s just what we’re going discuss here. Professional teeth cleaning is great, but it’s your habits and hygiene that will determine the overall health of teeth and gums.

As dental hygienists in Vancouver, we provide professional teeth whitening and dental cleaning. However, a big part of our approach is educating our clients on the best ways to care for their teeth. Here are our five biggest tips to improve oral hygiene at home.

1) Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

We know there are dozens of choices in the pharmacy. And people pick their favourites using all kinds of criteria—colour, texture, whitening power, flavour. But no matter what you choose, make sure it contains fluoride—aka your teeth’s BFF. Fluoride is a pillar of oral health because it fights the germs that lead to tooth decay and strengthens teeth with a protective barrier.

2) Floss Daily

It’s not easy until you get used to it, but flossing is just as important as brushing and should be done once a day. It’s important to understand that flossing isn’t just about freeing that bit of streak wedged between the molars—it stimulates the gums, reduces plaque, and helps prevent inflammation. If flossing feels difficult and bothersome, try cleaning up with the ready-to-use dental flossers available at drugstores.

3) Don’t Forget About Your Tongue

Yes, we know scraping your tongue with your toothbrush can trigger a gag reflex. On the other hand, the plaque build-up on your tongue isn’t just a significant source of bad breath; it can also lead to other oral health problems. Put the bite on bad breath by gently brushing your tongue, along with your teeth!

4) Brush at Night

Brushing at least twice a day is recommended by all dental practitioners. Brushing at night removes the plaque and germs that have accumulated during your daily meals and refreshments. Brushing at night also moderates morning breath, which your partner will appreciate.

5) Brush Properly

There’s a technique to brushing. Mindlessly seesawing your brush back and forth won’t deliver optimal results. Grasp the toothbrush gently and move it in gentle circular motions to scrape away plaque.

Remember to Schedule Regular Dental Cleaning

Even with an effective at-home routine, regular dental cleaning remains an important step to your overall health and well-being. Brushing is only so effective. Any unremoved plaque can harden, leading to build-up and gum disease. Moreover, the health of your teeth and gums can flag other issues in the body. That’s why we examine your oral tissues and perform an oral cancer screening as part of every dental cleaning.

At Pearl Dental Cleaning in Vancouver, we offer a comfortable, relaxing experience with no needles, drills, or expensive treatment plans. All dental cleaning fees are structured according to the BC Dental Hygiene Association—that’s about 30% less than the BC Dental Association. AND we are accepted by insurance plans.

Looking for professional Dental Cleaning in Vancouver? Book now and make Pearl part of your journey towards healthier teeth.