How much attention do you pay to your smile? Your mouth arguably is put through a lot day in, day out. And the last thing you want is to jeopardize your smile due to poor dental hygiene practices.
But what exactly are the best ways of taking care of your mouth, not just your teeth?
Brush Regularly
You want to avoid vigorous brushing, and being firm but gentle can help you clean your teeth without causing any damage from poor brushing techniques. Brush at least twice a day or after every meal if possible. Be thorough yet gentle and include all of your teeth, not just the front.
Floss
You need to floss every day to help you to avoid food getting lodged in between your teeth. Ideally, every day before you brush your teeth. You should floss by gently moving the floss up and down from the top of the tooth towards the gums to remove any food debris or plaque. If you find your gums are too sensitive for flossing, try a gentler water flosser.
Regular Appointment
Making sure you maintain a regular schedule of 6 month dentist appointments can help you identify any problems with your mouth and help you better maintain your oral health. Your check-up can indicate any potential issues such as gum disease, bite misalignment, or cavities. You can then discuss your treatment options, such as choosing to use clear braces, booking for further treatment, or arranging for a tooth extraction if required.
By having regular check-ins with an Expert Family Dentistry service, you can rest assured knowing your oral hygiene is in good hands. Sure, there are plenty of ways you can take care of your smile at home. However, should anything go sideways ever, it would be best to consult with your dentist about the situation before it worsens. Tooth pain isn’t something you want to mess around with, and you definitely want it taken care of before the solution needs to become more complicated!
Limit Sugary Foods
We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth, limiting how much sugar you consume via foods or drinks. If possible, your sugar intake should be around 10% or below your daily caloric intake for optimal dental health. This can reduce any sugar damage to your mouth.
Drink Water
All drinks except water can introduce sugar to your teeth. Sipping n soda or sugary fruit juices can continuously layer sugar on your teeth. You have probably felt this at some point when drinking overly sugary drinks. Like there is a film on your teeth. Water is the best drink to consume to avoid exposing your teeth to damage from what you consume.
Quit Smoking
Smoking not only stains your teeth yellow, but it can increase the likelihood of bad breath and is one of the leading causes of gum disease in the US. Smoking inhibits your body’s ability to heal, and this includes your youth, meaning if you have any problems with your gums or your mouth and you smoke, it can take longer to heal.
Mouthwash
There is contradictory evidence about the effectiveness of using mouthwash. Yes, it can contain fluoride to help strengthen your teeth, but mouthwash after brushing can wash away the benefits of your toothpaste. This is especially true if you use a specific whitening toothpaste or toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
If you want to use mouthwash, it may be an idea to first floss, then rinse with mouthwash, and then brush. Or to use mouthwash outside of brushing times, such as the middle of the day or an hour or two after brushing.
