Sure, you brush your teeth twice a day. Sometimes you even floss. But is there more you could be doing to care for your smile? Even people who maintain regular dental hygiene routines can sometimes be lax. If you want to ensure that you are taking excellent care of your oral health, then there are certain steps preventive dentists recommend for effectively protecting smiles. So brush up on your dental knowledge, that way you can ensure you’re taking great care of your one-and-only beautiful smile!

How Many Times a Day Should You Be Brushing?

Though most people think dentists recommend brushing teeth only twice a day, many actually believe it is best to brush a third time, if possible, such as at midday, after lunch. This helps cut down how long bacteria and food particles remain in your mouth.

If you don’t have access to a sink, or time to take a tooth brushing break, consider chewing sugar-free gum, which can at least help remove some of the particles from the surface of your teeth, not to mention freshen your breath until you can get home to brush properly.

Is Flossing Necessary If You Brush Effectively?

For some reason many people believe that if they’re brushing adequately, flossing isn’t really that important. Unfortunately this is not true. Flossing is essential to removing food particles and plaque-causing bacteria that can cause bad breath, and even lead to gum disease. Removing them is crucial to limiting unsightly tartar buildup, which can only be removed by a dentist once it has calcified onto teeth. So take the extra few minutes to floss every day, if you want to ace your next dental exam, and avoid the need for periodontal therapy.