Are you curious about how well you care for your teeth? If so, you should ask the dentist some questions at your next visit. Your dentist is very knowledgeable with oral care habits, and he or she can answer most of the questions you may have about this subject. If you want to know if you have good oral care habits, ask your dentist questions about the following things.

How well are you flossing?

The first thing you can ask the hygienist involves your flossing habits and skills. Believe or not, a hygienist and a dentist can both tell if a person flosses on a regular basis. Some people will tell their dentists that they floss every day, but a dentist can tell if this is true or not. People who floss regularly have cleaner gum lines, whereas people who do not floss regularly may have built-up plaque in these areas. Additionally, flossing right before you go to the dentist can leave marks in your gums that your dentist will see. If this happens, your dentist will know that you normally do not floss but that you did right before you came.

Are your teeth clean?

Secondly, you can ask the hygienist how well you are cleaning your teeth. If your teeth look great and do not have any cavities, your hygienist might be impressed with your cleaning skills. If you have a lot of plaque on your teeth or staining, it could indicate that you may need to brush better. Also, if your teeth are very sensitive, it could indicate that you are brushing too aggressively. People who brush too hard can remove the enamel off their teeth from the force.

Are you taking care of your gums properly?

A third thing you can ask about is your gum health. You can ask if your gums look healthy and if there are things you can do to improve the health of your gums. In most cases, people will have healthy gums if they brush and floss properly and often enough. When people do not brush and floss, they are more prone to developing problems with their gums. Your hygienist might even measure your gums to see if they are healthy or not.

These are three good questions to ask your dentist at your next visit. By asking these things, you can learn about how well you care for your teeth, and you can also learn better skills that might help you protect your teeth even more.