Practicing good oral hygiene can keep your teeth and gums free of serious issues down the road.

Dr. Woo Young Lee, Dr. Sean Kim, and our team at Bay Dental Group in San Jose, California, encourage good dental hygiene practices to keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest.

Let’s look at ways you can enhance your oral health, both at home and with our professional team’s help.

  1.  Brush your teeth

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps remove bacteria and plaque buildup. We advise you to use a soft-bristled brush in small, circular motions for an average of two minutes every time you brush. If you use a hard-bristled brush or press too forcefully, you can damage your gums.

  2.  Floss your teeth

Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove any trapped food particles that could attract bacteria and harm your teeth and gums. If your teeth sit tightly next to each other, get thin floss that glides easily. There are many different types of floss to accommodate whatever works for your mouth.

  3.  Watch what you eat

To prevent harm to your teeth, you should avoid overexposing them to food and drinks that contain too much:

• Sugar (candy)
• Citrus (oranges)
• Crunch (hard nuts)
• Stickiness (dried fruit)

Be careful not to chew ice, as well. It can damage your enamel and, in some cases, cause your teeth to chip, crack, or break.

You also want to limit your alcohol intake. Too much consumption can cause a decrease in your saliva production, and saliva is necessary to help flush bacteria and food particles out of your mouth.

To keep your teeth their whitest, stay away from food and drinks that can stain your teeth, like coffee, red wine, and dark berries.

  4.  Get semi-annual dental checkups

Semi-annual checkups with our team can prevent the development of serious issues in the future. We provide X-rays of your mouth once a year and professional teeth cleanings twice a year. We also visually observe your teeth and gums to make sure we don’t see any signs of tooth decay or gum disease.

Your appointments might also include a fluoride rinse to keep your teeth protected against cavity formation.

When you come into the office, we can monitor any changes to your oral health and address those issues. Treating issues in the early stages can stop the development of more serious problems.

To learn more about how to take care of your oral health, call our team at (408) 725-2442 today, or request your appointment online.