Around March and April each year, people around the nation begin thinking about cleaning and airing out the house after winter. After a few months of basic cleaning, it starts to feel like it’s time for a deep cleaning. Those hard to reach places like the baseboards and windows are in desperate need of a wipe down and the floors and bathrooms could use a deeper clean than normal for all those easy to miss spots.
The same holds true for your mouth. Throughout the year, we clean them daily and hopefully twice a day, but there’s no way to reach every single nook and cranny with just a toothbrush and floss. That’s where your biannual professional dental cleaning comes in. It’s important to keep up with these appointments because a thorough cleaning helps prevent plaque build-up and keeps things looking and feeling great.
Around the same time of your cleaning appointment, it might be a good idea to give your sink and tooth brushing area a little spring cleaning of its own. Here are a few tips:
Replace Toothbrushes
A toothbrush should be replaced after each illness and every few months as well. Bacteria can easily accumulate on toothbrushes and over time the bristles wear down and become less effective.
Check your Oral Hygiene Products
A lot of products actually do have expiration dates, surprisingly enough. This includes toothpaste, mouthwash, and any other toiletries and hygiene products.
Clean out Toothbrush Holders
Those little cups with holes on the top that hold your brushes can get pretty funky pretty quickly. As water drains from the toothbrushes it can drip down into the cups and accumulate. This can become a haven for bacteria when not cleaned out regularly.
If It’s been more than 6 months since your last professional cleaning or exam, call Dr. Abelar’s office today at 858-866-9692 so we can get you scheduled for your spring cleaning.
