The cold winter months are on their way out and plants are beginning to bloom, so you know what that means — it’s spring cleaning time! It’s a refreshing and exciting time of year where many of us get rid of old things we don’t need any more and clean up our living spaces. As you make your spring cleaning checklist, don’t forget about your pearly whites. Now is the perfect opportunity to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your smile strong and sparkling. Here are five easy but effective spring cleaning tips for your oral health!
Tip #1: Replace Your Toothbrush
Are you still brushing with the same toothbrush you were using around Christmas time? If so, it’s time for a new one! The American Dental Association reports that toothbrushes become significantly less effective at removing plaque and bacteria after about three or four months of use. When you throw out your old, frayed toothbrush, you’ll be amazed at how refreshing it is to brush with a new one!
Tip #2: Check Expiration Dates
Do you have a stockpile of toothpaste or mouthwash stashed away somewhere? While these dental products won’t “go bad” like the food in your refrigerator, they do have an expiration date. If a mouthwash or toothpaste has expired, that means that the ingredients they contain are no longer as potent as they once were and can no longer effectively clean your smile like they should. It’s time to replace them with something that will actually help your oral health!
Tip #3: Consider Investing in New Dental Products
While you’re getting rid of all your old, unused or expired dental products, consider replacing them. In fact, investing in new floss or toothpaste could make you more excited about using them! As long as you choose a product that has the ADA Seal of Approval, you may want to try a fun-flavored toothpaste or a helpful flossing tool.
Tip #4: Clean Your Retainer/ Invisalign/ Nightguard Case
If you wear a retainer, Invisalign aligners, sports mouthguard, or nightguard, you probably already know to clean them regularly to prevent plaque and bacteria buildup. However, it’s common for the cases they’re stored in to get neglected. Now is a great time to soak or scrub that case to make sure its not harboring any dried-out bacteria.
Tip #5: Schedule Your Dental Checkup & Cleaning
When it comes to spring cleaning your smile, no one can do it better than your dentist! These biannual visits are the best way to have all those hard-to-reach areas of your mouth cleaned out, like behind your back molars and just beneath your gums. A thorough but gentle examination will help your dentist spot and stop any potential issues before they become bigger problems later. Then, your hygienist will polish away any surface stains on your teeth to leave your smile gleaming and refreshed.
You probably already have a lot on your spring cleaning list, but it’s important not to put your oral health on the backburner. Take a little bit of time to make sure your smile is happy, healthy and ready for the rest of the year!
About the Practice
At University Dental Group in Worcester, we’re committed to providing one-stop preventive dentistry for you and your family. With our family-friendly office and state-of-the-art dental technology, we go above and beyond to make achieving excellent oral health as pleasant as possible. We use 100% personalized treatments to help our patients prevent oral health issues before they have a chance to begin. To schedule your next checkup, we can be contacted online or at (508) 753-1911.