Teeth Cleaning in Lehi, UT

Taking care of your teeth is something everyone should do. It’s one of the first things we all learn to do as a kid, which means we’ve had plenty of time to practice over the years.

But even with all that practice, sometimes you miss a few brushes. Eventually, that can lead to cavities, gum disease, or worse.

So on this page, we’ll look at why teeth cleaning matters, and look at some tips to help you take care of your teeth at home.

Why Does Teeth Cleaning Matter?

Let’s just get straight to the point: when you don’t clean your teeth, plaque and bacteria start to gather in your mouth.

That buildup is what can eventually cause cavities, gum disease, or even eventually result in lost teeth. The acids within dissolve the tooth enamel – creating holes that make your teeth hurt and eating unpleasant.

So teeth cleaning is more than trying to keep everything pearly white. It’s a matter of keeping your teeth in your head!

What Affects How Clean Your Teeth Are?

No matter what, a thin film of plaque will appear on your teeth every day of your life. Over time, the acids and bacteria in this plaque will damage your enamel and cause tooth decay. As a general rule, there are two main culprits that can make this film of plaque better or worse:

Your Diet

The food in your meals and the contents in your drinks both play a key role in your teeth’s health. If you aren’t brushing the recommended twice a day, cavities are basically a guarantee.

Every piece of food you eat during the day leaves debris on your teeth. That would mean all this would be feeding on your teeth – making little holes – whenever you forget to brush your teeth.

And to make it worse, maybe you had a couple cups of coffee with your usual two sugars. Sugar is a real tooth killer, and cavities are even more frequent. What you eat matters!

Your Habits

Besides what you eat, your habits have the biggest impact on the long-term health of your teeth.

Among the biggest culprits in this regard is smoking. Tobacco can stain your teeth, give you bad breath, and will hurt your teeth in the long run. In fact, the leading cause of oral cancer is tobacco, so smoke at your own risk!

But there are plenty of bad habits besides smoking. Another bad habit that can ruin your smile is forgetting to brush, or not making it a part of your daily routine.

Other bad habits that can affect your teeth include:

Biting your nails
Clenching or grinding your teeth
Chewing ice or hard candy
Using your teeth to “cut” items
Brushing too hard

The point is, it’s not just about brushing or avoiding sugar. You need to proactively take care of your teeth if you want them to last.

So with that in mind, let’s look at some ways that you can take your at-home teeth hygiene to the next level.

Great Dental Care Starts at Home

You’ve probably heard before that it’s recommended to brush at least twice daily for good oral health. Simply place your toothbrush bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and use soft, short, scrubbing motions to get rid of the plaque on your teeth.

Technique is only the start though. It isn’t the only thing you should consider when cleaning your teeth.

Here are four other elements to consider when taking your at-home dental care up a notch:

1. Your Toothbrush

Not all toothbrushes are equal. Depending on your budget and your gum and teeth health, it’s worth exploring all of your options.

At the very least, you should have a toothbrush with soft bristles. That way, you won’t damage your gum tissue, or cause it to pull back from your teeth. This would expose your roots and causes sensitivity to cold and heat.

How long should you use the same toothbrush? The bristles on a toothbrush tend to wear out within four months. That’s why it’s recommended you replace yours every three to four months for the best results.

2. Your Toothpaste

There are many toothpaste brands to choose from these days. How do you pick the right one, and how do you know it’s helping?

Most dentists recommend you should look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance when shopping for toothpaste.

This seal ensures a product’s safeness and effectiveness and is a great start for most shoppers. It means your toothpaste has fluoride and has been approved by dentists to clean and preserve teeth.

3. How Often You Floss

Not flossing is a major reason why many people have poor teeth health.

Toothbrushes can only reach so far. When you rely on your toothbrush for everything, you’re only cleaning the front, back, and bottom of your teeth. Bristles have a hard time going in between teeth and removing food debris and bacteria.

So if you don’t floss, all that will be left there to grow and feed on all your teeth, creating cavities and sometimes even gum disease.

But this can all be avoidable.

Flossing is just as easy as brushing your teeth. The only difference is you use a small thread and both hands.

And like toothpaste, you should choose dental floss with the ADA seal. Whether it’s waxed or unwaxed, this seal will ensure the floss is both safe to use and effective.

4. How Often You Use Mouthwash

Sometimes, you can leave clinging bacteria behind even after a thorough brush and floss. A good mouthwash can rinse your whole mouth out and eliminate all remaining bacteria. But keep in mind that mouthwash isn’t meant to clean your mouth on its own. For it to work at its best, you have to use it after brushing your teeth.

So if you’re thinking about replacing your brush and floss routine with mouthwash, you would be making a huge mistake. Instead, add it to your whole oral hygiene routine and let it help that much more.

Great Oral Care Needs Bi-Annual Dental Exams

Even if you brush and floss twice a day, you could still run into dental problems.

Perhaps you have been consuming more sugar than usual and skipped a couple brushes here and a few flosses there. Or, some people are more prone to cavities and gum disease than others.

A dental checkup should definitely be in your schedule every few months, or at least twice a year.

And even if you don’t have cavities, a good oral exam can help prevent you from having them.

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