6 Best Pieces of Advice My Dentist Ever Gave Me
This article unveils the top pieces of advice for maintaining a healthy smile, straight from the experts' mouths. With a focus on practices that go beyond the basics, readers will discover the pivotal role oral health plays in their overall well-being. Expert insights guide you through the nuances of dental care, ensuring your teeth and gums receive the attention they deserve.
- Focus on Your Gumline
- Brush Twice Daily Properly
- Prioritize Gum Care
- Oral Health Reflects Overall Health
- Use a Night Guard for Grinding
- Floss Before Brushing
Focus on Your Gumline
Best Piece of Dental Advice:
"Focus on your gumline-that's where the battle for your oral health is won or lost."
Why It Stuck With Me:
My dentist explained that plaque loves to hide where teeth meet gums, and most people brush too aggressively (scrubbing the tooth surface) or avoid the gumline altogether out of fear of irritation. This neglect leads to gingivitis, recession, and eventually periodontal disease.
How It Changed My Routine:
Switched to a Soft-Bristled Brush & Angled Technique:
I now angle my brush at 45-degrees toward the gums, using gentle circular motions to clean under the gumline.
Ditched hard-bristled brushes that were eroding my enamel and causing gum recession.
Prioritized Gum Health Metrics:
At checkups, I ask about pocket depths (the space between gums and teeth). Shallow pockets = healthy gums.
Invested in a Gum-Stimulating Tool:
Rubber-tipped gum stimulators (like GUM Soft-Picks) now part of my nightly routine to boost circulation and resilience.
Impact on My Oral Health:
Reversed Early Gingivitis: My gums stopped bleeding within weeks and now look pink and firm.
No More Sensitivity: Protecting the gumline reduced root exposure, so cold drinks don't make me wince.
Avoided Costly Procedures: Healthy gums mean lower risk of bone loss, tooth mobility, and future implants.
The Bigger Lesson:
Oral health isn't just about teeth-it's a holistic system. By targeting the often-overlooked gumline, I've prevented problems I didn't even know were brewing. This advice turned my brushing routine from a mindless chore into a strategic, evidence-based habit.
Your Takeaway:
Ask your dentist to show (not just tell) you how to clean your gumline effectively. A 30-second demo could save you decades of trouble.
Brush Twice Daily Properly
The best piece of advice I've ever received from a dentist actually came from my childhood dentist. He told me, 'Brush twice a day, but really take the time to do it properly.' It's something so simple, but it really stuck with me.
Over the years, I've realized how important it is to not just rush through brushing. Taking a couple of extra minutes to make sure you're doing it correctly can have a huge impact. Focusing on the right technique, reaching all the spots, and giving a little extra attention to the gumline makes a difference.
That advice has influenced how I approach my own brushing routine. I make sure to take my time, use the right pressure, and focus on the areas that often get overlooked. It's something I pass along to my patients too because, honestly, it's the little things that add up when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy.
Prioritize Gum Care
As an orthodontist, I'm always talking to my patients about the importance of maintaining their oral health throughout their treatment. But the best piece of advice I ever got came from a senior colleague when I was still early in my career. He told me, "Take care of your gums like you take care of your teeth."
It sounds simple, but that advice stuck with me. In orthodontics, I'm often laser-focused on teeth alignment and fixing bites, but my colleague reminded me that healthy gums and teeth are crucial for any successful treatment. It was a wake-up call to make sure I'm not just straightening teeth, but also ensuring the overall health of the mouth.
Since then, I've prioritized gum care in my dental care routine-regular brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash to keep everything in tip-top shape. Healthy gums and teeth are the foundation for any successful orthodontic work, and I've seen how that can make all the difference in both the short and long term.
Even as an orthodontist, sometimes a reminder from someone with more experience is just what you need. It's easy to get caught up in the details of treatment, but maintaining basic oral health is the key to achieving great results. That advice has shaped my practice, and I always make sure to share it with my patients-it's one of those little things that can make a big impact!
Oral Health Reflects Overall Health
One of the best pieces of advice I give my patients is: "Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health - take care of it like you would the rest of your body.
" Many people don't realize that oral health is closely linked to overall well-being. Issues like gum disease have been connected to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even respiratory problems. That's why I always stress the importance of maintaining a strong oral hygiene routine. I personally make sure to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss every day, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to keep harmful bacteria in check.
Beyond daily care, I always emphasize the importance of hydration and a balanced diet. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and bacteria, while limiting sugary and acidic foods reduces the risk of cavities and enamel erosion. I also encourage patients to pay attention to warning signs like bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, or persistent bad breath, as these can indicate underlying issues that need professional attention.
Most importantly, I never skip my regular dental check-ups and cleanings, and I encourage my patients to do the same. Preventive care is key - catching problems early can save time, money, and unnecessary discomfort.
By treating oral health as a vital part of overall wellness, I've maintained a strong, healthy smile - and I want the same for my patients. A little daily care goes a long way in ensuring lifelong dental and overall health.
Use a Night Guard for Grinding
I went to the dentist because I was having jaw pain and headaches from grinding my teeth at night. After checking my teeth, my dentist told me I needed a night guard to protect them from damage. He recommended SportingSmiles because they offer high-quality, custom night guards at a lower price than most dental offices. I ordered one online, and after using it for a few weeks, I noticed my jaw felt better, and my teeth weren't as sensitive. Thanks to my dentist's advice, I finally found a simple and affordable way to stop my teeth grinding.
Floss Before Brushing
The best advice my dentist ever gave me was "Floss first, then brush."
I always brushed my teeth diligently but treated flossing as an afterthought. My dentist explained that flossing before brushing removes plaque and food particles, allowing the fluoride from toothpaste to reach more surfaces. It made so much sense, yet I had been doing it backward for years.
Since making that small change, my checkups have been smoother, and my gums are noticeably healthier. It's proof that sometimes the simplest adjustments can make the biggest difference in oral health.
