The best way to ensure healthy teeth is to maintain a good daily oral health care routine. Here’s some helpful everyday tips to keep your smile bright and strong.
1. Wait After Eating To Brush
Acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits & juice, tomatoes, soft drinks, and wine have a low pH level that temporarily softens the enamel of your teeth. If you immediately follow up with brushing your teeth, you could end up removing some of the enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay. It’s best to wait between 30-60 minutes after eating and drinking to brush to save your enamel.
2. Use A Soft Bristled Brush
Along with changing your toothbrush every two to three months, make sure you’re choosing a soft bristled brush. Medium and firm bristles can be very abrasive and damaging over time. The bristles on a soft toothbrush bend easily, making it gentler on your teeth and gums and make it easier to reach parts of your teeth that hard bristles cannot.
3. Brush Daily and Nightly
This is the most well known recommendation for healthy teeth. Yet many still neglect to brush before bed. Make sure you’re brushing morning and night to get rid of germs and plaque that build up. Take your time while brushing. Move in gentle, circular motions for at least two minutes.
4. Don’t Forget Your Tongue
Plaque can also accumulate on your tongue. This can lead to oral health problems and bad breath. Everytime you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue with circular motions. Alternatively you can use a piece of floss to gently scrape down your tongue.
5. Use A Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride is an important part of dental care. When choosing your toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride. It’s the leading defence against tooth decay. Fluoride works by fighting germs that lead to decay and provides a protective barrier for your teeth.
6. Make Sure To Floss
Toothbrushes can only clean so much of your mouth, it’s difficult to reach in between your teeth, which is why flossing is important. Not only does flossing get that piece of spinach out from between your teeth, it also stimulates the gums, reduces plaque, and helps lower inflammation. Make sure to floss at least once a day and ensure you include the teeth at the back of your mouth.
7. Use Mouthwash
The final step of your dental care routine should be mouthwash. It reduces the amount of acid in your mouth, cleans hard to brush areas, and remineralizes the teeth. Mouthwash is especially helpful for children and the elderly, where flossing may not be ideal. Swish around the mouthwash for at least 30 seconds and spit into the sink.
8. Drink More Water
Water is great for your overall health, and particularly good for your oral health. After eating it’s important to drink and swish some water around your mouth to remove any lingering sticky and acidic foods between brushes. Australian tap water also has the added benefit of fluoride within it.
9. Each Crunchy Fruit & Vegetables
Raw, coarse, and fibrous foods such as apples, celery, carrots, celery, and lettuce help scrub at tooth surfaces and remove accumulated plaque. This will make your teeth healthier and make them appear whiter. As these foods require more chewing, they also stimulate saliva, which helps to neutralise acids that cause your teeth to erode.
10. Limit Acidic And Sugary Foods
Acid and sugar erode the enamel of your teeth and lead to cavities. Acidic fruits and tea & coffee can also wear down enamel. You don’t have to avoid them altogether, but do be mindful of your intake and make sure to clean your teeth after. In a similar fashion, limiting alcoholic drinks and avoiding tobacco use are very important in maintaining good oral hygiene.
Bottom Line
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important to your overall health and comfort. Take care of your teeth and they’ll take care of you. Along with everyday care, make sure to visit your dentist at least once every six months for a check up. If you need to book in your appointment, make sure to contact us at Carrum Downs Dental Group today.