5 Tricks To Improve Your Oral Hygiene
Brush twice a day and floss daily… We’ve all heard this tip! While this is a good suggestion, it may not be enough to keep your teeth and gums in the best shape possible. This blog will provide you with five tips to enhance your dental routine so you can keep your teeth healthy between dental appointments.
1. Electric toothbrush
When used appropriately, an electric toothbrush can often be considered more effective than your regular traditional toothbrush. An electric toothbrush uses tiny vibrations to do the cleaning, and most of them have a 2 minute timer to keep you accountable. Please note that abrasive brushing or brushing too hard – either with a traditional toothbrush or an electric one – can lead to gum damage. Make sure that when you brush your teeth you use a 45-degree angle towards your gum line, then softly brush to avoid gum damage or enamel erosion.
2. Proper Flossing
Flossing at least once a day is vital to your oral health. Regular brushing only reaches about 60% of a tooth’s surface. Flossing is the ONLY way to help remove debris and plaque from that other 40%. Keep in mind, flossing only benefits you if it is done correctly. You won’t remove hidden plaque and build up between your teeth if you don’t go far enough under your gums. On the other hand, if you floss too hard – you are at risk of damaging your gums which can lead to other oral health concerns down the road. It’s important to learn how to floss properly!
3. Rinse Your Mouth
After you finish flossing, you should rinse your mouth. Did you know, it is recommended to actually floss FIRST before brushing so that you can remove the debris you loosened during your flossing. More importantly, be sure that you’re flossing at some point during the day. Keep floss in your purse, or if you’re like me, I keep dental flossers in my car so that I can take care of it on the drive to work.
4. Keep a Toothbrush At Work
You just never know when your teeth may need a little freshening up. Maybe you had garlic & onions for lunch… now your breath STINKS! Keeping a toothbrush handy for emergency situations is always a good idea. Whether it’s just because your breath stinks, or if you have particles of food left in your teeth after lunch. Please make sure you keep in a clean location with a cover on it to prevent dust and bacteria to collect on your toothbrush.
5. Don’t neglect your tongue
There are millions of bacteria living on your tongue, which can contribute to bad breath and buildup of plaque in your mouth. While you are brushing your teeth, make sure you also brush your tongue to remove bacteria. Mouthwash can be added to your daily routine to help kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Be sure you use a mouthwash that has fluoride so you can have the added benefit of protecting and strengthening your teeth.
Conclusion
Following these simple tips will help you elevate your oral hygiene and keep your mouth healthy. If you have questions about your routine, just ask your dentist! No question is silly to ask your dentist. If you want guidance on flossing or which toothbrush to buy, just ask! Here at East Orlando Dental, we will take the time to show you how to establish a good hygiene routine.
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