Did you know that at least 26% of adults in the US suffer from tooth decay? There is also an issue regarding dental cavities, untreated dental concerns, and lack of good oral hygiene.
Of course, the best way to take good care of your teeth is to visit the dentist. However, you only need to truly visit the clinic twice a year. That’s one dental appointment every six months.
What should you do in-between visits? Not sure how to have good oral hygiene? Follow our top ten tips listed below to improve your oral hygiene routine and take better care of your teeth:
- Brush Everyday
The most common tip any dentist will tell you to have healthy teeth is to brush every day. You should brush at least twice a day — once in the morning and once at night. Some people brush after eating lunch as well.
Should you brush before or after eating?
You can brush after eating but wait a few minutes. You should rest for about 30 minutes to an hour after eating before brushing your teeth.
That said, you’ll take better care of your teeth if you brush before eating.
- Brush Properly
That said, brushing every day isn’t enough. There’s no point in brushing every day if you don’t do it right.
Make sure you don’t brush your teeth too harshly. Brushing too hard can damage your teeth and gums.
Don’t forget to brush the back and sides of your teeth. Angle your brush to clean off the edges of your teeth close to your gums. Move your brush in a circular motion to fully scrub off plaque, food, and bacteria.
- Don’t Forget to Floss
Treat flossing as an essential part of your daily oral hygiene routine. It’s as important as brushing.
Fortunately, there are different kinds of floss for you to try. This makes it easier for people who don’t know how to floss or struggle with holding floss properly. Make it a point to ask a dentist or to watch a few tutorial videos to get it right.
You shouldn’t move the floss from side to side. You have to move it up and down. This helps push off debris and plaque caught between your teeth.
- Watch What You Eat
Proper dental hygiene isn’t simply about cleaning and brushing. What you eat can also affect your oral health.
For example, you should slow down on food rich in sugar. Avoid dishes with a high acid content too. These ingredients can cause plaque build-up or damage the surface of your teeth more than anything else.
Avoid smoking too. The heat of the cigarette, along with the tar and other chemicals, damages your teeth and gums.
- Stay Hydrated
Don’t forget to drink a lot of water too. Your mouth relies on liquids like your saliva to combat plaque build-up. Staying hydrated helps your mouth get this job done.
Water also washes off bigger chunks of food and debris in your mouth. Simply sloshing a bit of water in your mouth can also rinse out bacteria.
However, this only works with water. Relying on juice, coffee, or soft drinks is not a good idea. These drinks either contain a lot of sugar or damaging acids.
- Consider Using Mouthwash
Fluoride mouthwash is another good solution to kill bad bacteria in your mouth. The right mouthwash helps re-mineralize your teeth while also reducing acid in your mouth.
That said, you need to time it. If you’ll use mouthwash, make sure you wait half an hour before eating.
Should you rely on mouthwash every day?
Mouthwash can help, but it’s not a substitute for brushing and flossing. You shouldn’t rely on it as the only means of taking care of your teeth and gums. Treat it more like a supplement to achieve better results.
- Crunchy Vegetables and Fruits
Make it a habit to include a few crunchy vegetables and fruits in your daily diet too.
Apples, pears, and carrots are all great choices. These all help wipe off plaque from your teeth and can help your mouth produce more saliva. These food choices also neutralize the amount of sugar build-up in your mouth.
- Regularly Replace Your Toothbrush
Replace your toothbrush at least once every three months. Over time, your brush will go through some wear and tear. The bristles won’t be as strong as they should be.
When this happens, your brush won’t be able to do its job. It can no longer scrub off hard plaque from the surface of your teeth. Prevent this problem by getting a new brush every quarter of the year.
- Don’t Ignore Your Tongue
Yes, your tongue matters too. Brush it regularly to remove bad bacteria building up on the surface. If you don’t, you’ll still suffer from foul oral odor even if you brush your teeth and gums regularly.
As with your teeth and gums, don’t brush your tongue too harshly. Some toothbrushes come with a tongue scrub on the backside. Use these to safely clean your tongue.
- Unscheduled Dental Visits
Keep in mind that while you should visit the dentist twice a year, you can still check-in for more tips and other dental treatments. It’s always best to find out more tips about oral care directly from a medical expert.
Don’t forget that dental visits can also lead to other forms of treatment. You might need to come in for cleaning or to get tooth fillings. You can also ask your dentist about changing the type of toothbrush you use or about getting braces.
Now You Know How to Have Good Oral Hygiene
Learning how to have good oral hygiene isn’t difficult with these ten tips. Brush properly, don’t forget to floss, and manage what you eat and drink. Of course, unscheduled dental visits are always welcomed too.
Of course, you shouldn’t end with these oral hygiene tips.
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