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Spring Cleaning For Your Mouth: How to Get Started

Written by Dr. DeAngelis

There’s something about the spring season, with its gentle warm weather and revitalizing sunshine, that inspires us to clean and organize our surroundings. As you move through your closet, kitchen cabinets, and garage, don’t forget one of the most important places to do some deep spring cleaning: your mouth!

That’s right; your mouth needs TLC just as much as your home. Here are some simple tips for spring cleaning for your mouth. They’ll help you rejuvenate your mouth so that you can stay smiling all summer long. 

Change Your Beverages of Choice

What beverages do you sip on throughout the day? If you stick to water, you have nothing to worry about. However, if your favorite go-to drinks are sodas, juices, and sports drinks, your teeth could be suffering the consequences. Most of the beverages lining the aisle at the grocery store are actually loaded with sugar and acid, even if their labels try to make them sound healthy.  

This means that every time you take a sip, you coat your teeth with a combination of substances that are virtually guaranteed to cause decay, sensitivity, and gum disease. 

As part of your spring cleaning efforts, try to swap these sugary drinks with water. Not only does water eliminate the excess sugar and acid on your teeth, water also improves the quality of your saliva and makes it easier for your mouth to ward off invading bacteria. 

Give Flossing a Chance

Are you part of the 44% of adults who never floss? If so, it’s the perfect time to do some spring cleaning for your mouth. Although most of us think of flossing as the “secondary” or “optional” partner to brushing, it’s actually just as important as brushing to prevent gum disease and keep your smile healthy. 

In order to make flossing a regular part of your routine, you must first own up to your excuse. Why don’t you floss? Here are the four most popular excuses that adults use to skip flossing:

  • “I don’t know how to floss!”
  • “I’m too busy, I don’t have time to floss.”
  • “Flossing isn’t really that important, I’ll be fine if I skip it.”
  • “My gums hurt and bleed when I floss, so I probably shouldn’t do it.”

The truth is that flossing is just as important as brushing! Flossing before you brush is an important way to break up any hidden plaque and tartar stuck between your teeth. After the floss loosens the bacteria, your toothbrush removes them from the mouth entirely. This protects the interior surfaces of your teeth from decay. 

As you give your mouth the gift of spring cleaning, make sure you add flossing into your routine. It’s not nearly as difficult or time consuming as you think. Floss picks make it extremely easy to slide floss in between each tooth without worrying about wrapping it around your finger or getting the right angle. 

Follow these directions for simple flossing success:

  • Place tip of pick between the teeth and gum line.
  • Use a gentle in and out motion to remove bacteria buildup
  • Repeat motion and rinse flosser as needed

Your smile will thank you… and your Carlsbad, CA dentist will be impressed!

Get to Know Your Dentist

Sometimes the easiest solutions are the ones we overlook or avoid! If you’re serious about improving your oral health and protecting your smile from unnecessary damage, the answer is simple: visit your dentist every six months. 

Those regular appointments are an essential element of preventative care. Each appointment gives your Carlsbad dentist the opportunity to evaluate your gums, teeth, tongue, and throat. Most importantly, it gives your dentist the chance to take note of any changes since your last appointment. Even subtle changes can indicate a potential problem or concern. 

Preventative oral care isn’t just about finding cavities; your dentist needs to assess the condition of your entire oral system. If you skip appointments or only see your dentist every few years, it becomes much harder to identify and treat problems like decay and disease before they cause widespread damage.

What better way to refresh your smile than to schedule a dentist appointment? Only your dentist can achieve the comprehensive deep cleaning your mouth needs for a true spring cleaning. 

Refresh Your Smile With Teeth Whitening

If your teeth have become blemished by yellow stains, this is the perfect time to reinvent your smile with professional teeth whitening. Whitening kits at the drugstore may be easy to slip into your shopping cart, but they’re often unpredictable and inefficient. Ask your favorite Carlsbad, CA dentist about the Pola Office whitening system instead. 

The Pola Office system is a simple, single-use in-office whitening treatment that achieves dramatic whitening results in just 30 minutes. Unlike other chairside treatments that cause unbearable sensitivity, Pola Office uses a unique desensitising formula to eliminate all sensations of sensitivity and help the whitening process remain comfortable. 

Get an Oral Cancer Screening

Spring cleaning isn’t just about making your life better today; it’s about preparing for the future as well. An oral cancer screening is the quickest, easiest way to stop serious dental problems before they ever begin.  

Oral cancer is a severe type of cancer that forms inside the mouth and often develops without any obvious signs or symptoms. Though it’s difficult to treat in later stages, oral cancer is highly treatable if caught early. 

That’s why taking 10 minutes for a simple, non-invasive oral cancer screening is such a powerful decision. Your dentist will gently examine your entire oral cavity, including your jaw, tongue, gumline, and throat. If she finds signs of oral cancer, you can seek life-saving treatment! 

Can you think of a more meaningful way to spend a few minutes of your spring cleaning?

Dr. Anakarina DeAngelis and her team at DeAngelis Family Dentistry in Carlsbad, CA are devoted to restoring and enhancing your smile, so call to schedule your appointment today. 

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