What Your Dentist Wants You To Know About Basic Oral Hygiene

Like any area of your health, maintaining good habits will help you feel healthier and alert you to changes in your health. When it comes to your dental health, here are seven oral hygiene habits that a general dentist, like Dr. Ahn Pham at Sunday Dental Care in Gainesville, VA, suggests you follow.

1. Brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste and drink fluoridated water. Most cities with water treatment facilities provide fluoridation in the water. If you live in an area where your water comes from a well, speak to your dentist about fluoride tablets you can take to supplement the lack of fluoride in the water. 
2. Make good oral hygiene a daily habit. Brush and floss your teeth before you go to bed and again when you wake up in the morning.
3. Break the bad habits of smoking, chewing tobacco products, or excessive drinking. All of these habits are bad for your general health but can be especially problematic with your oral health.
4. Schedule and keep regular appointments with your dentist. Developing a relationship with someone like Dr. Pham at Sunday Dental Care, a general dentist serving the Gainesville, VA, community will educate you on oral hygiene practices and help you to be a proactive patient in your dental health. 
5. Discuss any chronic health issues with your general dentist. Other health conditions, like diabetes, or medications you take may have an effect on your oral health, so discuss these issues with your dental professional.
6. Let your dentist know if you experience any noticeable changes in your ability to taste or smell. 
7. Help others in your household with good oral hygiene habits. If you have children or others in your house who have difficulty caring for their own oral health, help them to practice good habits. For children, find entertaining ways to educate them about oral hygiene. For elderly individuals, or those who are not able to perform regular flossing and brushing, help them to have routine cleanings at home and at the dentist.

Good oral hygiene habits are essential to maintaining your dental health. Contact Dr. Pham at Sunday Dental Care, offering general dentist services in Gainesville, VA, and now with a second convenient location in Chantilly, VA. Call us at (703) 743-2287 to schedule an appointment at either location and build positive habits that will benefit your oral health for years to come.