You can make a few oral hygiene changes that will make a big difference in your oral health. At our Royal Oak MI dental office, we love teaching patients about the importance of a healthy, beautiful smile. Our staff is highly trained when it comes to correcting smile flaws and educating our patients.

North Oaks Dental spends time with each patient to make sure they are comfortable in the office. We consider our office to be a guilt-free, lecture-free facility. You can give us a call today at 248-712-1522 (Royal Oak) 248-963-1969 (New Hudson) 586-685-7937 (Sterling Heights) to schedule your first visit with us. Today we want to provide a few tips you can use immediately to improve your oral health.

Start Brushing Your Teeth … Longer

We dentists recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day. You probably know that piece of advice already (By the way, we know when you’re lying about how often you’re brushing or flossing). But do you know that it matters how long you brush? In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day, you need to brush for at least two minutes. People often make the mistake of brushing too hard. This can actually damage your teeth and gums! Plaque, the cavity-causing agent you want to remove during brushing, is a soft substance and easily removed. Next time you brush, set a timer to help you brush longer and clean every portion of the mouth.

Never Skip Out On Flossing

This is another dental tip you have probably heard, but let us explain it in depth. Brushing can only clean a certain portion of the tooth. About 35 percent of the tooth is located beneath the gums. The best way to clean that portion of the tooth is with floss. So, the next time you think about not flossing, consider that portion of the tooth you’re not cleaning. You wouldn’t clean only 35 percent of your body and consider yourself clean. So don’t do the same with your teeth. Flossing also will reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated is important for your overall health, and your teeth. This is especially important if you tend to snack or eat sweets. Whenever we are drinking enough water, our mouths are producing more saliva. The water, which does not contain any harmful substances like sugar and has no acidity, will also clean out food debris. As an added bonus, most public drinking water contains fluoride, a natural substance that has been proven to reduce the risk of tooth decay and even restore damaged enamel.

These are just a few ways you can make an immediate change in your oral health. Of course, one of the best ways is to visit a qualified dentist. We are always accepting new patients. We have a new patient exam special for just $39! You can add a dental cleaning to that and pay just $99!

Give us a call today at 248-712-1522 (Royal Oak) 248-963-1969 (New Hudson) 586-685-7937 (Sterling Heights) to schedule an appointment.