Good oral hygiene habits are an essential part of keeping your smile healthy. St. Clair Shores, MI, dentist Dr. Sam Malouf at Malouf Family Dentistry shares a few tips that will help protect your teeth.

Stick to a schedule

Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening will reduce plaque, a sticky film that causes cavities. Plaque feels rough when you run your tongue over your mouth, but that uncomfortable feeling isn't the only problem. When plaque remains in your teeth, your cavity risk increases. Eating or drinking a sugary food or beverage triggers a chemical reaction that creates acids strong enough to damage your tooth enamel and causes cavities. When you brush at the same time in the morning and evening, you're much less likely to forget to brush.

It's also important to floss once day. Flossing gets rid of plaque and food debris between your teeth. When you floss around the base of your teeth too, you'll prevent plaque at the bottom of teeth from turning into hard tartar. If tartar remains on your teeth too long, it can cause gum disease.

Use the right tools

Toothbrushes with soft bristles do an excellent job of removing plaque and don't damage your teeth like medium brushes can. If you use a harder brush or apply too much pressure when you brush, you may damage your tooth enamel or cause your gums to recede.

Both string and tape flosses will clean teeth, although string floss may be a better choice if there's not much space between your teeth.

Follow-up with mouthwash

Fresher breath is just one benefit of using mouthwash after you brush. When you choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride and anti-bacterial ingredients, you'll reduce cavity-causing bacteria and rebuild weak areas of tooth enamel. For longer-lasting protection, avoid rinsing your mouth or drinking a beverage for about 30 minutes after you use mouthwash.

Visit the dentist every six months

Visiting our St. Clair Shores office every six months will help keep you keep your teeth clean and healthy. As part of your check up, we'll clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar and examine your mouth to look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and oral health issues.

Keep your smile strong and bright with good oral hygiene habits. Is it time for your check up? Schedule an appointment with your St. Clair Shores, MI, dentist Dr. Sam Malouf at Malouf Family Dentistry by calling (586) 772-9020.