Your daily habits play an important role in maintaining a healthy smile between dental visits. A dental checkup is an important checkpoint, but what happens at home in between is what does the most work to keep a smile healthy.
Build a simple daily routine
Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day remains the foundation of good oral hygiene. For younger children, a parent or caregiver helping with brushing — or at least supervising — makes a real difference until a child has the coordination to do a thorough job alone.
A soft-bristled toothbrush, a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children old enough not to swallow it, and a gentle circular motion around every surface of every tooth are the basics worth repeating often.
Watch for changes
Between visits, keep an eye out for anything that looks or feels different — a new spot of discoloration, a tooth that seems sensitive to hot or cold, gums that bleed during brushing, or a complaint about pain when chewing. None of these are cause for panic, but they are worth mentioning at the next visit, or sooner if something seems to be getting worse.
When to contact the office
Some things are worth a call rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit: a knocked-out or badly chipped tooth, swelling, or pain that does not settle with over-the-counter pain relief. When in doubt, it is always fine to call and ask.
Make the most of your visit
Coming prepared with a few notes — new habits, foods your child has been eating more of, or anything that has changed since the last visit — helps make the most of the time in the chair. Good habits at home and regular professional care work together, and neither one replaces the other.