Welcome to the dental practice of Steven P. Walker, DDS, online! With October finally here we are celebrating Halloween as well as National Dental Hygiene month. At our dental practice in Chesterton, Indiana, Dr. Steven Walker and our dedicated team want to wish our patients a happy fall season while taking care of their healthy smiles.
National Dental Hygiene Month is kicking off October festivities with its message “Do The Daily 4”. These are the four most important things you can do every day to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
1-Brushing: brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Doing this will lessen plaque to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
2-Flossing: floss in between your teeth and gums once a day, using dental floss or interdental brushes. Doing this will remove food particles and plaque in those places where your toothbrush can’t reach.
3-Mouthwash: rinsing with an anti-microbial mouthwash once a day will help freshen breath, and help prevent gum disease. Make sure to find a mouthwash with the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the packaging to ensure that the product is both safe AND effective.
4-Sugarless Gum: while this one may surprise you, chewing sugarless gum actually boosts your daily regimen by “cleaning” your teeth for those times you can’t brush after eating and drinking. Chewing stimulates saliva production which neutralizes plaque acids, remineralizes enamel and washes away food particles.
Not only should you adopt The Daily 4 into your oral hygiene routine, you can celebrate the holiday festivities by sticking to sweets such as powdered candies which dissolve easily and avoiding chewy, hard, or sticky candy. Besides chewing sugarless gum if you can’t brush your teeth after snacking, you can drink water or milk after snacking. Water helps rinse away bacterial film and milk has a high pH to offset the acid in the candy.
We hope these tips help you and your family have a safe, happy month leading up to Halloween. If you have any questions about your oral health, or would like to schedule a dental checkup with our dentist, please call 219-926-4321 in Chesterton, Indiana today. Dr. Steven Walker and the rest of our team wish you and your family a frightfully healthy Halloween!