Cleaning Between Your Teeth: The Secret to a Healthy Smile

Good dental hygiene isn’t only about being a dedicated tooth-brusher. Manual and powered toothbrushes are excellent cleaning tools, but they can’t quite reach every surface of each tooth. That’s why it’s imperative that people, especially those who wear braces, thoroughly clean between their teeth. Not doing so can promote decay, gum disease and tooth loss. 

The office of Lakeland Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is experienced in providing superb periodontal care for patients of all ages. Whether you need us for a minor procedure or for a more-involved course of action, we’ll provide the expert service you need and expect.

Cleaning between your teeth helps fend off plaque, sticky bacteria that feed on food and sugar in your mouth, and it leads to cavities and gum disease. Plaque releases an acid that erodes enamel and becomes tartar (or calculus). Tartar, which only a dental professional can remove, gathers along your gum lines and activates gum disease.

Use tools such as string dental floss, dental tape, interdental brushes, super floss and floss picks. If your teeth are crowded, use waxed floss. If spaces are between your teeth, dental tape or super floss may be more effective. Complete your mission by using a water flosser to wash away all of the loosened debris and plaque.

Keeping surfaces between your teeth free of food particles is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. You’d be surprised by all the foods that can get lodged there without your realizing it. Even sugar from beverages can stick to surfaces and become destructive. 

Staying consistent and meticulous is the essential component of scouring between your choppers. Next, you may think that as long as you do a thorough job, it doesn’t matter when during the day you do it. But as with many tasks in life, timing is everything. It’s best to carry out your deep clean in the early evening, so you can devote the extra couple of minutes and you’re not in a hurry to be somewhere. 

And don’t wait until you’re bushed, when your zeal is waning and you’re tempted to skip it. If you wait until the morning after, all the stuff that accumulated during your waking hours will have had time to fester overnight. Plus, it’s always nice to hit the hay with a clean mouth. Stick with it and you’ll have a healthy habit for the rest of your life.

Lakeland Periodontics & Implant Dentistry has a well-established reputation for providing excellent periodontal care and compassionate service. New patients are always welcome to our state-of-the-art facility, which is your resource for the best in modern practices. Please don’t hesitate to call us to schedule an appointment.