Maintaining proper dental hygiene is crucial to a happy, healthy, pain-free smile. However, there is more to keeping your mouth healthy than brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Be sure to implement the following tips into your everyday routine.
Tips:
○ Attend a check-up with your dentist twice a year. Regular cleaning and check-ups help to prevent severe gum and teeth decay. Reduce sugars in your diet
○ Do not smoke or use tobacco-related products. Smoking stains your teeth and reduces the blood supply into your gums, producing gum disease and potentially oral cancer.
○ Proper diet. Reducing sugar intake will have a positive impact on your oral health. Sugar has a direct relationship with tooth decay. Eating foods that contain sugar molecules and combined with saliva and bacteria present in
the mouth will lead to a plaque on teeth that can dissolve the enamel and leads to cavities. Eat plenty of vegetables like celery, carrots, or greens, which will help to clean the surfaces naturally.
○ Proper brushing: It is easy to forget some crucial steps when it comes to brushing your teeth. One of the things to remember is the time you should be brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth for two full minutes can help prevent plaque build-up and help decrease your chances of developing gum infection. Be sure you use a soft-bristled brush tilted at a 45° angle towards the gum line, allowing to clean under the gum line and between the tooth near the root. Gently brush your tooth with a rolling motion using enough toothpaste, and do not brush aggressively since you can damage your teeth and hurt your gum line.
○ Limit alcoholic beverages: Alcohol hurts teeth and gums because o its high content of sugar. Additionally, it causes dehydration and dry mouth, which can cause plaque build-up and cavities.
○ Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Regardless of the toothbrush you use, its bristles become frayed and worn, losing their effectiveness.
Studies demonstrate that a new toothbrush can remove more tooth plaque than a worn out. Generally speaking, a rule thumb is to replace your toothbrush at least every three months regardless of traditional or electric
brushes too.
