October is National Dental Hygiene Month!

Dr. James T. Gray’s office is getting ready to Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month.

October isn’t just for tricks and treats; It’s also National Dental Hygiene Month, National Orthodontic Health Month and Breast Cancer Awarness Month.

National Dental Hygiene Month celebrates all the hard work dental hygienists do and encourages patients to remember to take good care of their smiles. Here are 5 tips from Dr. James T. Gray and our hygienist, Holly, for practicing excellent oral hygiene that’ll keep your pearly whites nice and bright!

1. Proper Brushing

Brushing your teeth is essential to removing plaque bioflim from your teeth twice daily. Plaque is the soft sticky film you may feel on your teeth. Plaque fully reforms every 24 hours and the ONLY way to remove it is with brushing and flossing. Start of by choosing a soft bristle toothbrush. We recommend angling the bristles of the toothbrush at 45 degrees towards the gum line. Gently brush 2-3 teeth at a time making sure all surfaces are brushed.

2. Proper Flossing

Consider flossing to be an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. Did you know that your toothbrush cannot remove the plaque in-between your teeth? The only way for plaque to be removed is with dental floss.  Not flossing in between your teeth will put you at an increased risk for dental decay, gingival inflammation (also called gingivitis), and more calculus build up.

3. Rinse Regularly

Your teeth only account for about half of your mouth, so what about the bacteria in other places? Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash is an excellent way of reducing your risk of an infection, especially when combined with brushing and flossing. Don’t use a mouthwash that’s alcohol-based, as they can aggravate sores and irritations in your mouth.

4.   Proper Nutrition

Sip and snack all day and you will risk getting dental decay! If plaque is not removed efficiently, it continues to build up. The bacteria in plaque create acid from eating sugars from what you eat and drink. Once an “acid attack” occurs it will last for up to 20 minutes until the mouth can regain a healthy pH level.  Avoid sugary drinks, limit snacks in-between meals, chew sugarless gum (in moderation) with the ADA seal of approval, and drink lots of water.

5. See Your Dentist Regularly!

Of course, no oral hygiene regimen would be complete if you didn’t visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning at least twice a year. This way, there’s a better chance that tooth decay and gum disease will be caught in their early, easy-to-treat stages. And of course, your dental hygienist will be happy to get rid of any plaque and tartar that you’ve missed while brushing!

About the Author

Dr. James T. Gray has over three decades of experience in dentistry and is an active member of the Texas Dental Association. He’s dedicated to making sure his patients get the personalized care they deserve and need to keep their smiles beautiful and clean. To schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (817) 460-4131.