Maintaining a good bedtime oral hygiene routine is even more important than your daytime one. A lot can happen overnight while you are sleeping. Food debris and bacteria can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums during sleep time, when there is almost no saliva produced to wash away bacteria. Most of us have more time at night to properly clean our teeth, but wait until we are too tired to do so.

There are many ways to improve and maintain good oral health, even while you sleep. Here are a few helpful tips to get through the night.

Brush Before Sleeping
You brush your teeth in the morning before leaving for work or going to school to remove bacteria and keep it at bay for the rest of the day. It is equally as important to brush before you go to bed. Proper brushing protects against plaque and bacteria buildup, as well as tooth decay and gum disease.

Brushing Technique
The best way to clean your teeth is to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and move it back and forth gently in short strokes. Start with the outer tooth surfaces first, then work your way inwards, all the way back to the teeth you chew with. Use the tip of the brush and stroke gently moving up and down to clean the backs of your front teeth.

Floss
Flossing removes food particles and plaque buildup while it is still soft. If these debris stay on the teeth, bacteria will rapidly increase throughout the night and feed off them while you are sound asleep. Furthermore, if the plaque hardens, it becomes tartar, which can only be removed through a professional cleaning.

Teeth Grinding
Worn tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, or torn cheek tissues could be signs that you may be grinding your teeth while asleep. Though we can not stop you from doing it, we can recommend the use of a mouth guard as you sleep to protect your teeth from the effects of grinding.

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.