{"id":234,"date":"2026-09-30T18:22:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T18:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/?p=234"},"modified":"2026-10-05T18:25:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:25:22","slug":"national-dental-hygiene-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/national-dental-hygiene-month\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s National Dental Hygiene Month! Here\u2019s How to Keep Your Smile Healthy and Beautiful"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_371696733__1755032000_94086.jpg\" alt=\"Lady smiles outdoors\" class=\"wp-image-235\" style=\"width:322px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_371696733__1755032000_94086.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_371696733__1755032000_94086-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_371696733__1755032000_94086-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which makes it an excellent time to evaluate your oral care habits. With the right hygiene regimen and smart eating decisions, you can keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life. Here\u2019s a quick look at a few great ways to protect your teeth and gums from infection and injury from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">your dentist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stick to a Rigorous Daily Oral Hygiene Regimen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your daily oral hygiene habits are your first line of defense against infections and injuries. To keep your teeth in great shape, be sure to stick to a regimen that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Brushing:<\/strong> When you brush, do so with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush using gentle, brief, circular strokes to prevent unnecessary enamel erosion. It\u2019s generally sufficient to brush after you wake up and before you go to bed but ideal to also do so between meals. Be sure to wait at least thirty minutes after eating or drinking anything but water before brushing so your enamel has time to recover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flossing:<\/strong> At least once daily, thoroughly floss your teeth to eliminate plaque and food debris stuck between them. To do so, cut about eighteen inches of floss from the pack, hold about an inch taught between your two hands, and gently slide the thread between your teeth so you can work up and down and side to side against them. Then, move on to a clean section of floss and repeat the process until each space in your smile has been cleaned. Again, it is ideal to do this between meals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Antibacterial mouthwash:<\/strong> These products can kill massive amounts of harmful oral bacteria, reinforce your enamel, and leave your breath fresh and minty. Use according to the instructions printed on the label.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visit Your Dentist Regularly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist every six months for routine exams and cleanings. These appointments allow your oral health professional to monitor your oral health, address problems in their early stages, and recommend better oral hygiene habits. Keeping up with these appointments can prevent oral infections from causing severe damage and help you understand how to avoid unnecessary dental wear and injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Teresa Knott earned her dental degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and is a proud member of the Texas Dental Study Club. Her office in Garland offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you\u2019d like to learn more about proper oral healthcare or schedule your next checkup, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.towncenterdentalgarland.com\/contact.html\">contact her practice online<\/a> or dial <strong>(972) 530-5200<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which makes it an excellent time to evaluate your oral care habits. With the right hygiene regimen and smart eating decisions, you can keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life. Here\u2019s a quick look at a few great ways to protect your teeth and gums from infection and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Can I Keep My Teeth Healthy? | Dr. Teresa Knott<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"National Dental Hygiene Month is a great time to make sure your teeth are getting the care they need. 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