Dental Hygiene

Our experienced dentist and team will review your dental hygiene with you to help you improve your at-home care. We may recommend oral hygiene aids or offer guidance on the best ways to brush and floss so that you can keep your mouth and smile healthy. Call Boones Ferry Dental at 503-699-6699 to set up an appointment with Dr. Patrick Morrissey and learn more about oral hygiene in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Did you know that caring for your smile requires more than just a visit to our office? Maintaining excellent oral health should be a normal part of your daily routine and brushing and flossing should be a consistent habit. This helps keep your teeth healthy between appointments at Boones Ferry Dental and is the cornerstone to having a strong and beautiful life-long smile.

Our dentist and team recommend the following habits:

• • Brush Your Teeth: Teeth brushing should occur twice a day, usually right after eating or right after you wake up and before you go to sleep. We recommend using an electric toothbrush for optimal results and fluorinated toothpaste.

Dental Tip: Try not to rinse your mouth with water after spitting; this will help the fluoride bond to the enamel of your teeth to strengthen and reinforce them against cavity-causing dental decay.

• • Floss: Flossing your teeth is just as important, if not more important, than brushing. Food debris and bacteria get trapped in the spaces between the teeth, unreached by the bristles of your toothbrush. Because of this, these areas are the most common places for cavities to occur, making it even more vitally important to floss them. Flossing should be completed after every meal or at least right after you brush your teeth.

Dental Tip: If you find flossing difficult to make a habit of, keep a supply of disposable floss picks readily available and visible on your bathroom counter or stashed in your car.

We also recommend that you eat a nutritious, balanced diet, as your intake of sugary and acidic foods directly affects your oral health and may contribute to tooth decay. We also encourage you to make and keep all your regular dental appointments to receive cleanings and exams, as these appointments allow Dr. Morrissey to monitor your oral health and ensure you are receive all the care you need to maintain a healthy mouth and smile.

Mouthwash and other dental cleaners are optional and should only be used if they are fluoridated.

For more information about dental hygiene, please call our office and schedule an appointment with our dentist.