4 Tips For the Best Nighttime Oral Hygiene

oral hygiene durham nc dentist

Seeing your dentist for preventive care visits is important, but did you know that there’s something even more important in your oral health care routine? You might be surprised to learn that your at-home dental hygiene is the single most important way to prevent tooth decay.

While many people brush their teeth in the morning, you should also make sure you’re taking care of your teeth at night, too. Dr. Brent Blaylock is a Durham, NC dentist who helps patients take care of their teeth so they can have healthy, beautiful smiles. Learn more about how you can improve your nighttime oral health routine.

1. Make sure you don’t grind your teeth while you’re sleeping

Many people grind their teeth at night without realizing it. If you wake up with a sore jaw or often find yourself carrying tension in the jaw or neck, you may be suffering from bruxism, or tooth grinding. Over time this can lead to tooth damage. If you suspect you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about getting a mouth guard to wear while you’re sleeping.

2. Learn how to brush and floss correctly

Brushing and flossing are an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. However, if you are brushing and flossing incorrectly, you’re actually doing more harm than good to your smile. Use dental floss to remove leftover food particles and plaque from in between teeth. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and an ADA-approved toothpaste, gently brush your teeth in circular motions, making sure you get hard-to-reach places such as behind the teeth. 

3. Floss before bed

After a day of your usual activities, plaque has built up on the teeth. Oral bacteria in plaque love the dark, moist environment in your mouth while sleeping, and plaque will continue to build up while you sleep. While your dentist would like you to floss more than once a day, if you’re only going to floss once a day, make it before bed to avoid plaque building up even further during sleep.

4. Use an electric toothbrush

While it’s not totally necessary, an electric toothbrush might help some people improve their nighttime oral hygiene routine. An electric toothbrush provides powerful brushing movements that can remove plaque more efficiently than a manual toothbrush. Using something you look forward to using can make it easier to take the extra few minutes to brush your teeth.

Promoting Healthy Smiles in Durham, NC

Taking care of your teeth at night will help keep your smile healthy and beautiful for years to come. In addition to regular visits with Dr. Blaylock, make sure your at-home oral hygiene routine includes both morning and nighttime teeth care. Contact our Durham office online or by phone at 919.518.9963 to schedule your appointment.

Location

3206 Old Chapel Hill Road
Suite 300
Durham, NC 27707

Schedule Appointment

new patients 984-213-4695

current patients 919-493-8036

Hours

Monday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Friday: Closed