From Premier Dentist Philadelphia with Dr. Richard Eidelson, DDS, FAGD
A healthy smile isn’t rocket science. It’s just a handful of simple things you do every single day. Here are the five habits we hammer home with patients at our Center City dental office. They prevent cavities, keep your breath fresh, and stop gum problems before they start.
The five that matter most
Brush twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Sounds basic because it is. Soft brush, gentle strokes along where your teeth meet your gums. Hit every surface you can reach. Toss your brush or swap the head every three or four months. Frayed bristles don’t clean well.
Get between your teeth once a day. Floss works. So do those tiny pointy brushes. Water flossers are great too. Slide gently under the gumline and wrap around each tooth. Which tool you pick matters way less than actually doing it every day.
Eat and drink with your teeth in mind. Sugar and acid do the most damage between meals when your mouth can’t recover. Keep the sweets and sodas to mealtime if you can. Drink water the rest of the day. Love your afternoon Coke or Gatorade? Have it with lunch and swish some water after.
Show up for your dentist appointments. Twice a year keeps most people on track. Others need to come in every three or four months depending on what’s going on. Regular visits knock out the tartar you can’t remove at home, catch cavities when they’re tiny, and keep your plan working.
Protect what you’ve got. Fluoride toothpaste strengthens enamel. Mouthguards save teeth during sports. Nightguards stop grinding damage while you sleep. Don’t smoke, don’t vape. Stop chewing ice and opening beer bottles with your teeth. Your dentist can tell when you do that, by the way.
Start this week
- Set your phone timer for two minutes every time you brush. You probably aren’t hitting two minutes without it.
- Put your floss right next to your toothbrush. Out of sight really is out of mind.
- Trade one sugary drink today for water. Just one. See how it goes.
- Stash a travel toothbrush in your work bag, your car, your desk drawer. Wherever you need it.
- Book your next cleaning right now. Get it on the calendar before you forget.
How we handle prevention
Prevention beats treatment every time. Cheaper, easier, less painful. Dr. Richard Eidelson has been doing this for decades and brings serious training to every appointment. We use current technology here. Digital x-rays cut radiation way down. iTero scanners mean no goopy impressions. Ultrasonic scalers are gentler than old-school scraping. Your home routine combined with what we do here? That’s how you actually keep your teeth.
Ready to get on the schedule? Call us at (215) 557-6668 or stop by 1601 Walnut St., Suite 1114 here in Center City Philadelphia. We’ll take these five habits and make them work for your specific mouth.
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