Brushing your teeth three times a day doesn’t guarantee that you’re keeping your dental hygiene at the best possible level. In the long run, it may count for nothing if you have other bad oral habits and lifestyle. Brushing techniques are important but there are more tips that can help you boost your dental hygiene.
There are other factors that you should consider when taking care of your oral health. Considering the following dental hygiene tips and tricks will help you take your oral care routine to the next level. The most important tip is to visit your dentist regularly for the best dental care that your teeth needs. Keep reading for more!
Dental Hygiene: Tips and Tricks for Your Oral Health
Dental hygiene is important to help you manage bacteria present in your mouth. At any given time, there are different types of bacteria living inside mouths at all times. Most of these microbes build up as plaque causing tooth decay and gingivitis. If they are left untreated, it can even lead to periodontal (gum) disease.
For good oral health, you must practice proper and good dental hygiene every day. Below are some of the dental hygiene tips that will help you maintain good oral health.
Brush Your Teeth Before Going to Bed
The general recommendation of every dentist is to brush your teeth twice or thrice a day. Regardless of this, most people neglect brushing their teeth before going to bed. Brushing before sleeping at night, gets rid of the plaque and germs that accumulate throughout the day.
Use Proper Brushing Technique
A quick brushing of your teeth isn’t enough to wash away leftover food particles and polish your teeth. There’s a technique to it and we can teach you.
First, start with your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. When stroking, use short back and forth strokes across both sides and the top of your teeth. Hold your toothbrush vertically, and with several shorter strokes focus on the back of your teeth. The back of your front anterior teeth is where plaque builds up more often.
Take your time to move the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions to remove all the plaque. If you don’t do this and plaque hardens, it may lead to severe buildup and gingivitis. Speaking with a dentist near you would be the best way to combat this problem.
Floss Properly
Same with brushing, you must floss your teeth properly. With flossing, you can reach between your teeth, and get the particles that are stuck in there. Generally, you should use a piece of floss of up to 18 inches in length.
Also, use a new area of floss every few teeth to prevent reinserting bacteria you just removed. Remember that the floss should rub against your teeth in a motion that creates a forward or backward ‘C’ shape. Finally, take special care to wrap the floss around each tooth.
Use a Mouthwash
Although dentists recommend using mouthwash, many people still skip them because they don’t know how it works. Mouthwash is also necessary to maintain good oral health. For starters, mouthwash helps in three ways.
- Mouthwash lessens the amount of acid in your mouth.
- It cleans hard-to-brush areas in and around your gums.
- It also remineralizes your teeth.
Additionally, mouthwash is useful as a supplement tool to help bring balance in the mouth. Brushing and flossing is important. However, mouthwash brings you full circle.
Use a Tongue Scraper
Some toothbrushes nowadays already have a ridged tongue scraper on the back. After brushing, a helpful dental hygiene tip is to scrape your tongue as part of your daily routine. This is because bacteria can remain on the tongue after brushing. Cleaning your tongue will not only get rid of bacteria, it can also freshen your breath.
Drink More Water
Water remains the best beverage for your overall health. And your oral health is not left out. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you drink water after every meal. Drinking water after meals can wash away the bad effects of acidic foods and beverages in between brushes.
Minimize Sugary and Acidic Food Intakes
Sugar converts into acid inside your mouth eroding the enamel in your teeth. Usually, these acids are the root cause of cavities. Acidic fruits, teas, or coffee can also wear down your tooth enamel. There is nothing wrong with eating acidic food, but you must know how to limit your intake.
Eat Fruits and Vegetables Regularly
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain more healthy fibre, but they are also the best food for your teeth. Also, eating harder to eat and chew foods is good for your teeth, especially at a young age. Stop cutting food into tiny pieces, let your teeth and jaws do their work. That’s a dental hygiene tip that should be pinned to the fridge.
Visit Your Dentist at Least Twice a Year
Aside from your own everyday dental hygiene habits, visiting your dentist is also crucial to your overall oral health. Even with the most dutiful brushing and flossing, you still need to visit your dentist regularly. Generally, it would help if you visited your dentist for dental cleanings and checkups twice annually. Dentists won’t only remove cavities. In addition, they also spot potential issues and offer dental treatment solutions.
Key Takeaways
Achieving healthy teeth takes a lifetime of full care and attention. Even if someone told you that you have nice teeth, it’s essential to follow the dental care and hygiene tips outlined above. Achieving good oral health takes regular dental hygiene.
More importantly, a dentist near you can be a reliable partner. If you are looking for a dental clinic in Toronto, visit Osmin Denture today! We offer a wide range of dental as well as denture care. Feel free to call us at 647-294-3310 or email osmindenture@gmail.com.
