Most of us understand how important regular visits to the dentist for cleaning and check ups are. Did you know, however there are many things you can do at home to keep your mouth healthy? At Berquist Family Dentistry, we understand that the key to optimum oral health begins with an excellent home care routine. This is why we spend so much time educating patients about their oral health and how to improve home care. Your Whiting dentist gives some helpful tips on keeping your mouth healthy between dental visits.

Improve Brushing Techniques

You may not realize that how you brush your teeth is just as important as how often, however we’re here to tell you that your brushing technique can make all the difference in the world. Learning the right ways to brush will not only help you to remove more plaque build up, it will also protect your teeth from gum recession caused by vigorous brushing. Our hygiene team is happy to explain and demonstrate proper brushing techniques at your next cleaning appointment.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

You already know that fruits and veggies are good for your body, but they’re also good for your oral health! When you eat fruits and veggies it increases your saliva flow, which helps to wash away the food debris that can cause plaque build up. They also neutralize the acids in your mouth that cause cavities and damage to your teeth.

Quit Bad Habits

Certain habits such as smoking and tobacco use are detrimental to your oral health. The damage that tobacco use causes is severe. From causing yellow and discolored teeth, to oral cancer, the effects of tobacco use are not good. Quitting smoking benefits your overall health and well being.

Use an Antibacterial Rinse

Adding an antibacterial mouth rinse to your home care routine not only helps to eliminate acids and plaque build up in your mouth, as a bonus it also promotes fresh breath. Your hygienist can recommend which rinse might be best for your needs.

Dr. Daniel Berquist and Dr. Robert Berquist provide high quality dental care to patients in Northwest Indiana. At Berquist Family Dentistry we strive to be your partners in helping you achieve and maintain optimum oral health for a lifetime. We hope that these tips and guidelines are helpful as you consider making improvements to your home care routine. We invite you to call us with any additional questions you may have, and to schedule your next appointment.