10 Oral Hygiene Tips

Brush Regularly

It might seem obvious, but regularly brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is one of the best things you can do for your mouth. Brushing removes the film that develops over your teeth from plaque and bacteria. It also reduces bad breath and helps to prevent decay. When you brush it’s important that you choose a toothbrush that is soft and that you do it for at least two minutes twice a day.

Floss

Flossing helps to get into every nook and cranny that your toothbrush couldn’t. Flossing once a day have been proven to reduce the buildup of plaque around your gums and slow the progression of periodontal disease.

Eliminate Sugar from Your Diet

Sugar is a mouth’s number one enemy. It comes in many forms: sodas you get at the gas station, candy, fruit, honey, even carbohydrates found in bread and pasta breakdown into sugar. Bacteria in your mouth feed off of this sugar and release acid as a byproduct, which eventually causes decay. Avoiding sugar greatly reduces the chance of you developing cavities.

Wear a Mouthguard

This is for people who play any sports. A mouthguard can help protect your teeth, gums, and lips from impact that occur while playing sports.

Start Children Early

The earlier a child is exposed to the dentist the more likely they are to continue visiting when they’re older. Additionally, early exposure helps to ensure children won’t develop a fear of the dentist. The important thing to remember, however, is that you must pick a dentist who is experienced in dealing with children so their first experience is not traumatic.

Get Sealants

Sealants offer a wonderful way to protect both adult and primary teeth from decay. This clear coat is painted onto a tooth’s surface and forms a protective barrier between a tooth and food.

Don’t Smoke or Chew

People who chew tobacco are 50 times more likely to develop mouth cancer, while smoking leads to a four times greater probability of developing periodontal disease. Avoiding smoking or chewing tobacco will not only protect your overall health, it will protect your oral health as well.

Visit Often

It is recommended that patients visit the dentist once every six months for an exam and cleaning. This helps to ensure a patient’s mouth is in great condition, allows the dentist to look for any changes from the last visit, and helps reduce plaque and tartar build up through a professional cleaning.

Eat Healthy

A diet rich in vitamins and minerals will help keep your teeth healthy by ensuring they’re getting enough calcium, as well as other vitamins, to stay strong. Leafy greens are one of the best ways to keep your mouth healthy and get vitamins.

Rinse After Eating or Drinking

After each meal or drink it’s important that you rinse to remove any residue from the surface of your teeth. This helps prevent decay and staining over time.