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Eek! 3 Dental Hygiene Tips to Help Your Smile Survive Halloween

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It’s October—time to explore haunted houses, wear scary costumes, and enjoy one of the most candy-focused holidays of the year. If you aren’t taking proper care of your teeth, you’ll have a smile that is truly terrifying even after Halloween is over. Coincidentally, October is also National Dental Hygiene Month, which means that now is the perfect opportunity to learn about the importance of your oral hygiene and how you can keep your pearly whites healthy. In this post, you get plenty of dental hygiene tips in North Central San Antonio.

Why You Should Keep Up Your Oral Hygiene

Did you know that millions of bacteria live in your mouth? Some of them help break down food particles for digestion, but others feast on carbs and sugar to create acids that can harm your smile. In fact, every time you eat, you produce plaque, a white, sticky substance consisting of food particles and bacteria. If plaque isn’t removed from the teeth within a few hours, it adheres to teeth and hardens. Then their acids erode tooth enamel and cause decay (i.e., cavities), or they can irritate and infect your gum tissue (i.e., gum disease). Your oral hygiene can keep these unpleasant and damaging results from happening.

How to Take Care of Your Smile

Believe it or not, maintaining a healthy smile is rather simple. Consistent daily efforts along with professional help can make sure that the bacteria in your mouth remain under firm control. Below are the most important things you can do to keep your oral hygiene.

Brush for Two Whole Minutes

After every meal, or at least twice every day, you should be brushing your teeth. However, many people rush through this task as quickly as possible, leaving spots of plaque behind. When you brush, take two solid minutes to thoroughly clean every tooth surface and all areas of your mouth, including your tongue.

Floss Every Day

No matter how advanced and fancy toothbrushes have become over the years, they still aren’t able to reach the small spaces in between teeth, where plaque is notorious for accumulating and hardening into tartar. That’s why flossing at least once every day is so important. It prevents plaque and tartar buildup and the development of smile-damaging oral conditions.

Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months

Other than your daily at-home oral care, your semi-annual appointments with the dentist are critical for keeping your smile free from decay and infection. During this visit, your dentist examines your teeth and gums, catching problems before they have the chance to cause serious trouble. Also, your dental hygienist removes plaque that you may have missed, stopping problems from forming in the future.

As you eat plenty of treats this Halloween, remember that the bacteria in your mouth can play dangerous tricks on your smile without the proper care. By implementing a strong oral hygiene routine into your lifestyle, you can make sure that your sweet tooth doesn’t cause your smile problems. If it has been a while since your last dental checkup, contact your dentist for an appointment today!

About the Practice

Legacy Dental SA has been serving families in the San Antonio area for over 35 years now. Dr. Brian Eck and Dr. Reagan Smith individually have years of training and clinical experience in helping patients keep their smiles healthy. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Legacy Dental SA, you can call (210) 361-8905 or click here.

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