7 Simple Dental Hygiene Tips

Keeping your teeth strong enough to last a lifetime doesn’t require a lot of time. Just a few minutes every day is all it takes to keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay. It takes longer to get dressed in the morning. You probably spend more time on your morning coffee, and if you’re getting healthy exercise, caring for your teeth certainly takes less time than your exercise routine or morning run.

Here are 7 dental hygiene tips to get you on the right track

1. Brush Before Bed (and in the Morning)

You really should brush your teeth twice a day, but if we must choose the most important tooth brushing of the day, the brush before bedtime is the one that benefits you the most. Nevertheless, given that brushing your teeth only takes minutes, you don’t really have an excuse to brush less than twice a day. Make it a habit if you don’t already.

2. Floss

Getting used to flossing isn’t at all difficult. One flossing a day will remove a lot of plaque you can’t get at with a toothbrush. An Associated Press report is among the publications that recently trumpeted the fact that there is “weak evidence” in favour of flossing. But think about it: we know that plaque causes cavities, and you can even see the plaque coming away from your teeth when you floss. It’s not a huge leap of logic to conclude that flossing reduces the chance of getting cavities.

3. Don’t Just Brush and Floss: Do it the Right Way

Waving a brush and floss in the general direction of your teeth is obviously not enough to keep them clean and healthy. There’s a right way and a wrong way of doing everything, and brushing your teeth is no exception.

4. Go Electric

Minding your brushing form becomes less of an issue when you choose an electric toothbrush. Its motion is great for removing plaque, and most dentists recommend switching to an electric toothbrush for this reason.

5. Give it Half an Hour

Brush your teeth at least half an hour after meals or acidic beverages. Acidic foods and drinks soften the tooth enamel and brushing your teeth before the pH of your mouth has restored itself to normal means that you could be damaging your teeth over time.

6. Swish it Out

Rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth helps to dislodge even more debris from your mouth. If you want to use a mouthwash, ask your dentist to recommend one that will be good for you. Some mouthwashes aren’t particularly beneficial while some might even contain ingredients that can be bad for your teeth.

7. Never Skip your Check-Ups

Catching any developing problems before they literally become a pain makes a great deal of sense. Why risk the need to have major dental work done when a minor procedure at the right time would do the trick? Apart from picking up early signs of trouble, your dentist will either clean your teeth professionally, or refer you to an oral hygienist for a proper scale and polish. This treatment removes old hardened plaque, or tartar, and helps your teeth to stay healthy.

Has it been a while since your last dental check-up? Pick up the phone and make an appointment right away. We’re your team-mates in keeping your mouth and teeth healthy, and we’re proud to be part of your oral health routine. Let’s work together to keep your teeth and gums healthy.