Are You Keeping Good Oral Hygiene Habits?

Want a simple way to avoid cavities and decrease your risk of tooth loss? Practice good oral hygiene! Aiea, HI, dentist Dr. Gale MaranaOral Hygiene explains why oral hygiene is crucial to your oral health and shares a few tips.

Plaque flourishes when you neglect oral hygiene

Decreasing plaque levels in your mouth may help prevent tooth decay. The longer plaque remains on your teeth, the greater your risk of tooth decay. Plaque is usually invisible, although if you have a significant build up, you may notice white spots on your teeth. Eating sugary and high-carbohydrate foods increases your risk of cavities, due to the chemical reaction that occurs when sugars and the bacteria in plaque mix together. The reaction triggers the formation of acids strong enough to destroy tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. Luckily, it's easy to reduce plaque simply by brushing and flossing your teeth every day.

Don't neglect brushing

Have you ever been so tired in the evening that you decided to skip brushing your teeth? Skipping brushing sessions gives plaque more time to build up on teeth. Although you may not notice a problem if you occasionally fall asleep before brushing, making the practice a habit may lead to tooth decay. No matter how tired you are, it's a good idea to try to muster a little extra energy for tooth brushing before you go to bed.

Choose the best brush

When you buy a toothbrush at an Aiea area store, you'll notice that most of the brushes on the rack feature soft bristles. Soft bristles are recommended by dentists because they won't damage your tooth enamel. Harder brushes erode tooth enamel and are also more likely to cause receding gums. In addition to choosing a brush with soft bristles, it's also important to take a look at the head of the brush and find one that fits your mouth perfectly. If the head is too small or large, it will be more difficult to brush efficiently.

Floss every day

Flossing is the only way to remove plaque from the tight spaces between teeth. If you don't floss once each day, you may develop decay on the sides of your teeth.

A good oral hygiene routine and regular dental visits will help you keep your smile strong. Call Aiea, HI, dentist Dr. Gale Marana at (808) 488-7868 to schedule your next appointment.


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Monday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday
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Thursday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

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