Tips to Boost Your Oral Care Routine
Your oral hygiene is an integral part of your overall health, and patients should do just as much to care for their smile as any other area of their body.
If you’ve been slacking on your oral care, here are some tips to show your teeth and gums some TLC!
Improve Your At-Home Routine
The best way to prevent tooth decay and tooth loss is by keeping up with a dental hygiene routine at home. While you may make changes to your diet to support your health, many patients let their dental care go to the wayside. Here are some top tips to help improve the care of your teeth and gums at home:
- Brush your teeth and tongue 2-3 times per day.
- Change your toothbrush every 3 months.
- Floss (properly) at least once daily.
- Use an ADA-approved mouthwash.
- Avoid added sugar as much as possible.
- Limit consumption of dark-colored drinks and fruits to avoid staining.
- Schedule regular dental checkups.
- Visit the dentist for any pain or discomfort.
Remember, if you still need help improving your dental hygiene routine, ask Dr. Lazare for help at your next appointment!
Visit the Dentist More Frequently
Beyond taking care of your oral health at home, the #1 important thing you can do to keep your gums and teeth healthy is visiting your dentist for regular checkups. You should see your dentist two times a year at a minimum — once every 6 months.
During your exam, Dr. Lazare and his hygienists will check your teeth and gums for any signs of inflammation, disease, or damage. He will also check how much plaque and tartar are on your teeth and offer guidance about how you can improve your dental hygiene routine at home if needed. From there, digital X-rays may be taken and then your teeth will be cleaned. He will take you on a tour of your mouth with his intraoral camera and 3D imaging and discuss any ways to help protect, maintain, and improve the health and beauty of your smile.
Manage Your Overall Health
Poor oral hygiene can lead to consequences for not just your teeth and gums — but for your overall physical health. In addition, having other health conditions such as diabetes can leave patients more predisposed to developing worse oral conditions. Patients with certain undiagnosed medical conditions may notice a change in their oral health, which can be the first indicator that something is wrong.
If your goal is to start taking care of your health — booking your dental cleaning and check-up is a great first step.
Learn About Cosmetic Procedures
Some cosmetic procedures don’t just improve the appearance of your smile — but protect your oral health, too! If you’ve been waiting to talk to your dentist about cosmetic improvements or biomimetic restorative procedures or treatments, you can take advantage of your cleaning appointment to do so. Dr. Lazare may suggest that you come back for further appointments, but we can still start the conversation and get you scheduled. Think of it as two birds with one stone!
Choose Biomimetic Dentistry
Did you know that some of the traditional methods typically used at the dentist are more than 100 years old? Biomimetic dentistry aims to keep teeth strong and seal them off from bacterial invasion. This approach emphasizes prevention and maintenance instead of the reactive approach conventional methods typically focus on.
Invasive procedures used by traditional dentistry (like silver mercury fillings, posts, and unnecessary reduction of tooth structure and deep, non-layered fillings) can result in cracks and sensitivity. Over time, a patient could experience bacterial infections and tooth fractures — and the need for tooth extractions, root canals, implants, and bridges.
Because Biomimetic dentistry focuses on minimal preparation to the tooth, patients experience less discomfort while at the dentist. Studies have shown that biomimetic dentistry can reduce the need for a root canal by over 80%. Compared to conventional methods, patients spend less and smile more. Biomimetic dentistry can treat a wide range of oral conditions, including:
- Tooth decay
- Fractured teeth
- Chipped, cracked, damaged teeth
New York City Biomimetic Dentistry
Lazare Biomimetic Dentistry and Smile Design is one of the only dental practices in the entire Upper East Side of the New York City area to fully embrace and incorporate the principles of biomimetic dentistry into our practice.
We proudly use biomimetic dentistry to protect the health of our patients’ smiles. Contact us online or call (332) 334-8290 to schedule an appointment for our Biomimetic dentistry services today.