When To Replace Your Toothbrush And Other Oral Health Tips

At Muse Dental Studio, we are passionate about your oral health and want to give you the tips and tools you need to help achieve excellent oral health. While we love to see our patients, we typically only see them twice or so in a year, so they must be responsible for managing their oral hygiene routine on their own. We want to stress the importance of caring for your teeth properly each and every day. It will save you a lot of money in the end when you do not need additional dental care. Here are some helpful tips:

Replace Your Toothbrush
Do you know how often you should be replacing your toothbrush? It should be replaced every 2-3 months and immediately after you have been sick. If you have a cold, fever, or strep throat, it is possible to reinfect yourself. It is also important to visually inspect your toothbrush and replace it when the bristles appear damaged or bent. This will occur if you’re brushing too hard or chewing on your brush.

Floss Daily
Aside from brushing your teeth, it is necessary to floss daily as well. This is the best way to ensure that no food or bacteria are trapped between the teeth. When patients don’t floss regularly, they are more likely to experience decay and gum disease. When patients visit us for routine oral hygiene examinations, we are able to see how often they floss. If you are unsure how to floss properly, we would be happy to show you during your next appointment.

Avoid Snacking Throughout the Day
We encourage patients to eat larger meals and limit snacking. Each time you eat, you are introducing new bacteria into your mouth. The production of saliva helps to remove some of the bacteria, but they still linger on and between the teeth. Over time, this can lead to problems with decay. These same problems occur if you drink coffee or sugary beverages throughout the day.

If you have any other questions about your oral health, or you need a routine hygiene examination, contact our Houston, TX office to schedule an appointment. Now that it is the start of a new year, there is no better time to schedule your next visit. We look forward to hearing from you soon!