To stay healthy at home during this lockdown, you may be fixing nutritious meals, going for walks, or following along with workout videos. Don't forget to include your teeth in your health routine! There are a variety of ways you can update your dental hygiene practices at home to make sure you're getting the most out of your brushing and flossing. Below, your dentist in Berkley, MI, Dr. Julie Forte, offers at-home dental cleaning guidelines for the whole family.
Tips for adults
Brushing your teeth is something you've been doing for many decades, and it's probably become so ingrained that you don't think much about it anymore. However, take some time to evaluate how you're brushing to see if you need to make any changes. Are you brushing for two minutes twice a day? Do you replace your toothbrush every three to four months? Are you using a non-abrasive toothpaste? When it comes to flossing, try ordering the plastic flossing picks to replace the traditional spool of floss. To stay on track with flossing, try updating your calendar for every day that you do floss. After about 10 to 12 days, you should be well on your way to keeping this habit!
Tips for kids
Children aren't known for being diligent about cleaning their teeth, and during this time where normal routines are disrupted, they might be even more inattentive to brushing and flossing. You can boost their interest in brushing by ordering new toothbrushes featuring their favorite color or cartoon character. A fun-flavored toothpaste can also be helpful. You may try downloading an app to your phone that times their brushing and encourages them to keep going; there are several of these apps available. To promote children's flossing, your Berkley dentist suggests similar methods as mentioned above.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to see patients for non-emergency appointments at this time, but for questions or dental emergencies, please contact Dr. Forte of Forte Family Dentistry in Berkeley, MI at (248) 546-2030.