The smile is an important part of our entire being. It lets people know you are happy, friendly, and approachable. Good oral hygiene allows people to stick around and not feel the need to leave due to bad odors. Keeping healthy dental hygiene is hugely important in this day and age and there isn’t an excuse for poor hygiene.
There are many people that just about pass the test when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy but there is more we should be doing. In this article, we are going to take a look at the steps you should be taking to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
When you were a child there is no doubt that you were at the dentist more than you care to remember. The dreaded dentist trip always came at the worst time and it seemed like you were always there. Well, now you’re an adult these trips are essential to keep your dental hygiene at its peak. You should be visiting your dentist every 6 months so they can give you a good check up and let you know if there is anything wrong. The bright smiling experts at Boutique Dental explain that your dentist will be able to let you know in advance if there is a chance of any complications with your teeth. From here they will be able to give you advice on how to prevent and/or treat any issues you may have.
Generally speaking, we should be seeing our dentist every 6 months, but those with dental problems should be visiting a dentist or even an oral surgeon every 3 or 4 months. You may be advised to undergo a dental implant procedure if you have missing teeth. Those with no issues at all will be able to get away with a yearly visit.
Brush Your Teeth Before Bed
We all know we should be brushing our teeth twice a day and most of us know that’s once in the morning and once in the evening. The importance of brushing before bed is often looked over. We need to brush our teeth clean before bed as plaque and other germs have built upon our teeth and could cause havoc if left unattended. Plaque is a bacterial film that coats your teeth and contributes to gum disease, bad breath, and much more.
Not only should you be brushing twice a day, but you should also be brushing correctly. Doing a lousy job is just as bad as not brushing your teeth at all so ensure you’re doing a good job every time! Take your time, it’s not a race, move your toothbrush in gentle, circular motions.
At this point, it’s important to mention the tongue. Don’t forget it! Just because it’s not one of your teeth doesn’t mean it doesn’t need cleaning. Plaque can also build up on your tongue leading to bad breath and other oral hygiene problems so make sure to clean it.
Remember To Floss
From the age of 12, it’s recommended that you use another brush to get in between your teeth or as an adult, floss. It’s an additional cleaning tool to really help remove all the plaque from your teeth. Floss is a thin, soft thread that can be manipulated in between teeth to clean hard to reach areas. Don’t be aggressive when flossing as it could cause damage to your gums.
Use Mouthwash
Using mouthwash is a brilliant way to help keep your oral hygiene at the top of its game. Surprisingly enough, you shouldn’t use mouthwash in conjunction with brushing your teeth. If you do so it will wash away all the helpful fluoride in the toothpaste that cleans your teeth. Instead, you should use mouthwash after you have eaten. This way, the fluoride will be restored and your teeth will be kept healthier. It also smells lovely and fresh so it helps with bad breath!
Look At Your Diet
They say you are what you eat, and whilst that’s not completely true, it could have quite the effect on your oral hygiene. A diet high in sugar is going to be detrimental to your dental health. Sugar and teeth aren’t the best of friends so it’s important to try and eat as little added sugar as possible. Other things to avoid are alcohol and smoking. Things you should seek out are fresh and crunchy foods. They contain great, healthy fiber and they’re great for your teeth.
The main thing to remember when looking after your oral hygiene is to keep everything as clean as you can. Brush twice a day and ensure one of those is before you go to bed! Don’t rely purely on your toothbrush, but instead, use it as part of your daily dental routine. It doesn’t take too long and you’ll be smiling non stop with pearly whites!