Home Care Downey CA | Home Care in Downey
Home Care Downey CA

Home Care

Home Care Downey, CA

As a leading dental office in Southern California, Downey Dental Arts is committed to educating our patients to help them improve their oral health. Our dental hygienists are extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of dental hygiene and love to teach patients, especially children, how to brush and floss properly. We have also compiled this informative page to help you with your home dental and orthodontic care.

Why Is Home Dental Care Important?

Daily dental hygiene is critical for great long-term oral health. This includes daily brushing and flossing, plus other good oral health habits such as eating the right foods and drinking lots of water. Without proper brushing and flossing, you are at a much higher risk of problems, such as cavities and gum disease.

How Often Should I Brush and Floss My Teeth?

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once per day. Follow the 2/2 rule, which recommends brushing twice per day for two minutes each. It’s not a bad idea to brush lightly after each meal as well. You can also floss more frequently if you wish. Be careful not to overbrush or be too strenuous with your brushing and flossing, as this can also cause wear and tear on teeth and gums!

Home Care Downey CA
Home Care in Downey CA

What Is the Proper Way to Brush Your Teeth?

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to the brush head. Brush in small circles, making sure that the toothbrush is also making contact with the gums. You should make sure you brush each quadrant of the mouth thoroughly, allocating 30 seconds for each section for a total of two minutes. Just remember not to brush too hard, as this can wear away at the teeth and gums.

You can also brush your tongue after you are done with your teeth to remove extra food particles. Some people prefer using a tongue scraper for this purpose.

What Is the Proper Way to Floss Teeth?

Using dental floss (waxed is often easier to use), you’ll first cut off a long piece of floss, approximately 12 to 16 inches in length. Wrap the floss around either your index or middle fingers, whatever feels most comfortable. You should have 2 inches of floss open between the fingers. Insert this floss strip between the teeth sequentially to gently remove debris.

You may need to rinse the floss or move to a new section of floss if the floss has too much debris on it. If you don’t like holding the floss, you can also use a floss holder.

Some dental health experts recommend flossing before you brush because the toothpaste can reach the cleaned-out areas better. However, many people prefer to floss afterward.

Should I Use Mouthwash?

Mouthwash that kills the bacteria in the mouth can be helpful after brushing and flossing as well as in between meals when you don’t have time to brush. Look for a mouthwash that has germ-killing properties. Some people prefer alcohol-free mouthwash as it “burns” less.

How Do I Take Care of Braces?

Metal or ceramic braces should be carefully kept clean because they attract food particles. You can brush as usual, but flossing can be a bit challenging. You have many options for flossing with braces, such as using a floss threader to reach under wires or waxed floss that will glide instead of stick to braces. A water flosser can also be very helpful for people with braces. You can also try interdental flossing brushes, which can be very helpful for cleaning brackets and wires.

Home Care Dentist Downey CA

How Do I Take Care of Dentures?

Removable dentures need special care in order for them to last long and fit properly. Most types of dentures are removable. (Ask our dental hygienist about proper care of any permanent, fixed dentures). To clean removable dentures, fill the sink with water or use a soft towel in the sink to prevent the dentures from breaking when you remove them.

Dentures should never be put into super hot water, as this can warp the plastic frame. Use lukewarm or room temperature water to clean your dentures with a special denture-soaking solution and then soak them overnight. Then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your remaining teeth and gums with regular toothpaste to remove debris and freshen your mouth. Floss should also be used on remaining teeth.

Do not use denture cleaner on your dentures while they are still in your mouth, as denture cleaner can be caustic to human tissue.

Want to Know More About Proper Dental Home Care From Downey Dental Arts?

When you come in for your dental checkup or routine teeth cleaning, our dental hygienist can demonstrate proper brushing and flossing for you. To schedule your dental visit at Downey Dental Arts, contact us today by calling (562) 445-3363.

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