How About Now? Do I Still Need To Brush?

There are some very basic guidelines (that are also quite straightforward) for you to follow in regard to what you should be doing with your brushing. When you follow our Austin, TX team’s suggestions for your preventive dental care at home, of course, you keep your smile clean. When your smile remains clean, it’s much easier for it to remain healthy. While you know that the general rule is to brush twice a day, every single day, that doesn’t mean you won’t have a what-if question or two! However, when you consider some possible what-ifs you might stumble upon, you’ll start to better understand why the original guidelines hold true and, of course, you will still need to brush!

What If I Got Up Late And Missed My Morning Session?

If you get up late and it’s no longer morning, then that doesn’t mean you get to shrug off the first half of your preventive dental care when it comes to dental hygiene for the day. Instead, you should simply remember that no matter what, you need to brush twice a day. While it may no longer be morning, brush anyway, as soon as you can. Then, brush again before bed. That way, you’re still keeping your teeth consistently clean throughout the day.

What If I’m Only Going To Sleep A Couple Of Hours?

Maybe you know that you’re only going to catch a couple hours of shut-eye before you have to get back up again. You may wonder: Do I really still need to brush my teeth before I go to sleep? The answer is yes! Brush them before you go to sleep. When you get up for the day, brush them again! The goal is to keep your smile clean of plaque. When you brush twice a day, even if your schedule becomes a little off, you’re promoting optimal oral health.

What If I Drank Water And Chewed Gum Already?

When you talk with us during your preventive dental care visits about how to protect your smile, especially if you cannot get to a toothbrush after you eat something, we will suggest rinsing with water. We will also suggest chewing sugarless gum for about 20 minutes to help cleanse your teeth. However, just because you follow through on this, we remind you it doesn’t mean it replaces one of your twice-daily brushing sessions. It just helps you protect your teeth until that time comes!

Let Us Help You Better Understand Brushing

If you are ready to learn all about why you have to brush twice daily, how it helps protect your oral health, and how to do so in a way the best benefits your smile, we are always here to offer additional advice. Schedule a visit with your dentist in Austin, TX by contacting Austin General Dentistry today at 512-346-5540.