Dupont Dental - Your Washington DC Dentist


  Contact : 1234 19th Street NW Suite 604 | Call us: 202.296.7714

Archive for October 2016

Comments Off on Flossing: Why It Is So Important?
why is it important to floss

Flossing: Why It Is So Important?

Posted by

Every time you visit the dentist, you are likely told how important it is to floss regularly. This helpful tip is a great reminder for your oral hygiene, but a lot of people fail to take care of this small part. Even though it does not take long, it can make a big difference.

What is the Purpose of Flossing?

Flossing is a way to clean between your teeth. As much as people wish it were true, brushing only cleans the surface of your teeth. Brushing cannot get into the crevices of your teeth and clean out the food particles that are stuck between them. Many types of bacteria build up in these spaces that cannot be removed without proper flossing. Even if you think that brushing gets these things out of your teeth, the fact remains that it cannot remove everything and you will still have food particles and bacteria between your teeth.

What Happens When You Do Not Floss?

When you do not floss, you start getting plaque buildup between your teeth. This plaque buildup can be removed mostly by your dentist, but if you only visit the dentist twice per year as recommended, you will have a lot of plaque buildup that is on your teeth for a good part of every year. This plaque buildup can lead to other problems with your teeth such as cavities, tooth decay, and even gum disease. Not only can these things be very costly to repair, but some of them may also be irreversible.

How Often Should You Floss?

It is recommended that you floss at least one time per day according to the American Dental Association. You should make it a part of your daily routine and get in the habit of doing it at the same time each day. Many experts say that flossing at night before bed is the best time so you can clean out all of the bacteria before bed. Additionally, it is important that you take your time flossing to ensure you are doing it correctly and efficiently cleaning between your teeth. If you complete it too fast or do it the wrong way, you are likely to miss some of the things you need to clean.

Brushing is More Effective When Paired with Flossing

You should not perform one or the other when taking care of your dental hygiene at night. Make sure you both brush and floss to get a proper clean. You can even follow it up with some mouthwash. However, mouthwash should never be used instead of brushing or flossing for your nightly routine. The American Dental Association recommends that you floss before brushing so you can get a better clean.

Flossing Can Provide Better Breath

If you are not convinced yet that flossing is vital for your oral care, one last benefit of flossing is that you can achieve better breath after brushing and flossing together than if you were just to brush. The reason for this is because sometimes bad breath can be caused by food or bacteria between your teeth. Even after brushing, if this is still in your mouth, you are still likely to have bad breath once the toothpaste smell goes away. It can even help with the oral discomfort that comes from food being in between teeth.

Flossing is a critical part of maintaining oral health, and it has benefits that are separate from brushing alone. Your dentist knows best on this one, and you should make it a part of your daily oral care routine.

Read More
Comments Off on Is It Really Better To Use An Electric Toothbrush?
pros and cons of electric toothbrush

Is It Really Better To Use An Electric Toothbrush?

Posted by

With so many toothbrush options available on the market, a common question many people have is whether or not it is better for your oral health to use an electric toothbrush instead of a manual toothbrush.

What Are The Pros and Cons of a Manual Toothbrush?

A manual toothbrush will get your teeth clean enough as long as you use the right technique. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, but with a manual toothbrush, you have to keep up with that time on your own. A manual toothbrush does not require you to charge it or replace batteries from time to time. Since it does not need energy, you can use it without fear of the power running low. Additionally, it is very inexpensive. In fact, many dentists give their patients a free toothbrush at the end of each visit.

You have to replace your toothbrush every three months, but it does not cost a lot to do so. If you are traveling, you can easily take it with you without getting a charger or extra batteries. You should just get a case for it to keep it clean. One of the best pros of using a manual toothbrush, for many people, is there are so many to choose from. There are smaller ones for people with smaller mouths, soft bristles for people with sensitive teeth, and many colors including prints for children.

How Does an Electric Toothbrush Better Those Benefits?

With an electric toothbrush, you do not have work nearly as hard to get your mouth and teeth clean. It does a lot of the work for you, as long as you purchase a quality electric toothbrush. It is so easy to use, and you just have to move it across your teeth to get a good cleaning in. Another great benefit is that it has a timer built in. You no longer have to time yourself while brushing or guess if you have brushed long enough. An electric toothbrush will stop once you have hit the two-minute mark, so there are no guessing games. Overall, it is much easier to use an electric toothbrush, and if you do not use the proper technique with a manual brush, you get a much better clean with a lot less effort.

What Are Some of the Cons?

Some negative components go along with an electric toothbrush, however. One of the biggest ones that keep people from making the switch is the cost associated with it. Not only is buying the electric toothbrush expensive, but you also have to purchase new brush heads every three months which are more expensive than manual toothbrushes. If your electric toothbrush is battery powered, you also have to buy replacement batteries every time your batteries are dead. A lot of money goes into getting and maintaining an electric toothbrush. You also have to charge your toothbrush if you have one that is rechargeable. This takes time, and you may not know you need to do it until it dies on you mid-brush. It is a lot harder to travel with an electric toothbrush as well since you have to bring more with you and it can be bulky. While breaking a toothbrush does not cross your mind with a manual one, you do have to be more careful with an electric one.

In the end, the choice is yours. There are benefits to using both kinds of toothbrushes, as long as you use the proper technique. Both types allow you to get a good cleaning. You may want to talk to your dentist about it to see if they can help you make the best decision.

Read More