Back to the Basics

Brush Up on Basic Oral Care Techniques to Cut Down on Dental Expenses

As we continue to wait for the economic downturn to turn around, many families are looking for ways to cut household expenses. One place you can easily cut your dental expenses is to take a good luck at your current oral care regimen and give your skills a little brush up.

Are You Brushing Properly?

Pay careful attention the next time you brush your teeth. Are you simply rubbing the brush horizontally across your teeth? Dentists and hygienists agree that’s simply not the best way to clean bacteria and debris from your teeth and from beneath the gumline.

The proper brushing technique is to brush in a circular motion down from the gums. This technique not only works food debris and bacteria loose from the gums, it also helps remove bacteria and debris from the grooves of your teeth, which happen to be vertical.

Do You Floss?

This is, by no means, a guilt trip. But studies show that up to a huge percentage of Americans don’t floss daily. Flossing not only removes the tiny food particles lodged between your teeth, helping fight decay, it also helps dislodge bacteria from the gums. This simple, quick daily step could save you a wallet-full of money down the road.

How’s Your Bacteria Holding Up?

Just like the rest of our bodies, our mouths are host to hundreds of bacteria. Research has identified that some of these bacteria can support gum and tooth health, while others are considered more harmful. Using a simple, tasty oral care probiotic mint twice daily can help replenish the colonies of the beneficial bacteria, giving them the strength in numbers they need to crowd out the harmful bacteria.

Whether you’re looking to invest less money in trips to the dentist or simply to spend less time in the chair when you’re there, getting back to the basics of good oral care can go a long way.