It’s that time of year again. The weather is warming up. People are trading their sweatshirts for t-shirts. And…oh yes! Your dental office is calling you to remind you of your six month cleaning. The cold weather and snow days kept most of us under the covers and rearranging our family’s busy schedules. Well it’s time to store away the down comforters and pick up that phone to schedule your dental cleaning. Here are some of my tips to help prepare you for a quick and easy visit.
1) Switch out that manual toothbrush for an electric. Studies have proven handheld toothbrushes don’t compare to the work an electric toothebrush can do. In fact, most electric toothebrushes have timers and pressure sensors on them which help make sure you are are brushing adequately. Yes, they are expensive. But take my word for it. They last a very long time and make a huge difference reducing the plaque levels in your mouth. Bottom line: Less plaque = less bacteria = less cavities.
2) Find that floss and use it. Believe it or not floss is not a gimmick a bunch of dental nerds came up with to annoy you. It actually works! Here’s why. Toothbrushes clean most of the surfaces of your teeth but they can’t get inside the spaces between your teeth very well. They also can’t get below the gum-line very well either. Trust me, plaque and tartar love making a home in there. Waxed floss easily glides between teeth and picks up what your toothbrush simply can not.
3) Don’t wait too many months in between those dental cleanings. You would be surprised to see the difference in calculus buildup compared from 6 months and 9 months. Truly, it accumulates like rust in your pipes. Less plaque = less scraping at your dental visit = happier patient! Schedule your cleanings ahead of time with your dental office so you don’t loose track of when your last visit took place.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since your last dental visit or what your dental history is. At McLean Family Dentistry, we are here to help make your teeth feel good year round. So pack away that comforter, pick up that phone, and call our dental office at 703-448-9100 to start making fresh changes for the Spring season.
