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Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMFri–Sun Closed

(309) 243-8455

Home Care

What you do between appointments matters more than what happens during them — a practical guide to looking after your teeth at home.

You spend roughly an hour a year in a dental chair. The rest of the work is yours, and it is not complicated: disrupt the plaque every day, and do not give it a constant supply of sugar to live on.

The parts that actually matter

  • Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, for a full two minutes
  • Clean between your teeth once a day — floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser, whichever you will genuinely use
  • Spit after brushing rather than rinsing, so the fluoride stays on your teeth
  • Keep sugar to mealtimes; frequency does more damage than quantity
  • Replace your brush, or the head, every three months

The honest version

The best routine is the one you will keep doing. If flossing has never stuck, an interdental brush or a water flosser used daily beats floss used twice a year. Tell us what you actually do and we will work from there.

Martin Ruelas, DMD, PC

Dare to have the smile you've always wanted.

10330 North Juliet Court
Suite 1
Peoria, IL 61615

(309) 243-8455 Fax (309) 243-8466

Office hours

  • Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Fri–Sun Closed

Closed Friday through Sunday. Requests sent over the weekend are answered on Monday.

© 2026 Martin Ruelas, DMD, PC. All rights reserved.

Serving Peoria and Dunlap, Illinois.