Your Salem, OR Dentist
Keizer Smile Center
3975 River Road N Ste 5
Keizer, OR 97303

Keeping Your Smile Healthy

Keeping Your Smile Healthy

Do you have a healthy smile? Dr. Trenton LeBaron your Keizer, OR family dentist at Keizer Smile Center, shares a few tips that will help oral hygieneyou avoid dental problems.

Brush and floss daily

Brushing and flossing every day is the best way to prevent tooth decay. If you don't make brushing a priority, plaque takes over your mouth, coating your teeth in a colorless, sticky, bacterial film. Although plaque can make your teeth feel rough, that unpleasant sensation isn't the only problem. Plaque causes cavities by combining with the sugars in foods to form acids. These acids eat through tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.

Brushing your twice each day is the easiest way to remove plaque and prevent damage to your teeth. Most toothpastes contain fluoride, a mineral that helps remove plaque and also remineralizes weak areas of your enamel. Brushing and using fluoridated mouthwash is an excellent way to protect your teeth.

Toothbrush bristles are effective at cleaning the visible surfaces of your teeth, but they don't fit between teeth. Unfortunately, if you don't remove plaque from the spaces between your teeth with dental floss, you can develop cavities in these areas. Whether you prefer string floss, floss tape or interdental brushes, it's important to floss at least twice a day.

Use tools, not teeth

Have you ever needed to open a package, but didn't have scissors handy? You probably thought, "Why not rip it open with my teeth?" Unfortunately, using your teeth to open packages can damage teeth and cause them to crack or break. Biting into very hard foods, such as thick, hard pretzels and nuts, can also break teeth. Keep your smile strong by staying away from hard objects and very hard foods.

Don't skip dental exams

If your teeth don't hurt, you may think that it's safe to skip one of your regular dental exams, but missing that appointment can harm your oral health. Cavities don't usually hurt in the early stages. Unfortunately, by the time they do start to hurt, the damage to your teeth can be extensive. When you visit the dentist every six months, he can spot and treat cavities when they're still small and haven't done much damage.

Protect your smile with good oral hygiene habits and regular dental visits. Call Dr. LeBaron, your Keizer, OR family dentist at Keizer Smile Center, at (503) 393-9106 to schedule your appointment.

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