Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine during bedtime is even more important than your routine in daytime. Anything can happen overnight, while you sleep. Food debris and bacteria can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums during sleep, when there is almost no bacteria-washing saliva produced. Most of us have enough time to brush our teeth properly at night but wait until we’re too exhausted to do so.

And when you sleep, there are many ways to improve and preserve good oral health. Here are a few helpful tips for getting through the evening.

Brush Before Sleeping
Before you leave for work or go to school, you brush your teeth in the morning to kill bacteria and keep them on bay for the rest of the day. Brushing before you go to bed is equally necessary. Proper brushing protects against the buildup of plaque and bacteria, tooth decay and gum disease.

Brushing Technique
The easiest way to clean your teeth is to place your toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees and push it in quick strokes, gently back and forth. Start first with the outer tooth surfaces, then work your way inwards, all the way down to the teeth in which you chew. Use the brush tip and gently push the stroke up and down to clean the front teeth back.

Floss
While it is still soft, flossing removes food particles and plaque buildup. When such debris stay on the teeth, bacteria can increase rapidly during the night and feed off while you sleep softly. In addition, once the plaque hardens, it is tartar, which can only be removed by a skilled cleaning technique.

Teeth Grinding
Worn tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, or ripped cheek tissues may be indicators that your teeth could be grinding when you are sleeping. Although we can’t discourage you from doing so, we do suggest using a mouthguard while you sleep to protect your teeth from the grinding impact.

To find out if dental implants are the right tooth replacement option for you, give our office a call at 203.878.8596. We look forward to speaking with you.