Brushing your teeth every morning and night doesn’t guarantee you’re giving your mouth all the attention it needs. Even a regular oral hygiene routine could be leaving gaps if you engage in a few not-so-great habits with your time at the sink. By understanding proper brushing technique and ensuring you have the right tools in your cabinet, you can make sure you have all of your bases covered when pursuing a more thorough clean. Consider the following dental hygiene tips to help you take your care routine to the next level.
- Use Proper Brushing Technique
A quick wash of your bristles isn’t enough to banish leftover food particles and polish your teeth. Start with your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and use short back and forth strokes across the sides and tops of your teeth. Then, hold the brush vertically and use several shorter strokes to focus on the backs of your teeth of the front anterior teeth where plaque builds up often.
2. Brush Enough
Many people brush regularly, but simply don’t brush enough for their teeth to stay clean.It is recommended to brush for at least two minutes, twice daily. Having trouble gauging your routine for this duration? Try listening to short song, cue up a two-minute YouTube video or set a timer on your phone to give yourself the time you need to thoroughly clean your teeth.
3. Pick the Right Brush
Always look for a brush whose head and bristles are small enough to reach into the crevices of your molars, where food debris can hide after you eat. According to the International Dental Health Association, most adults require a small- or medium-sized toothbrush for this purpose.
4. Floss Properly
Like brushing, flossing must be done properly so that, when you reach between teeth, you actually get to the germs that are stuck there. Ideally, use a piece of floss up to 18 inches in length, allowing you to use a fresh area of floss every few teeth without reinserting bacteria you just removed. Keep in mind the floss should rub against the teeth in a motion that creates a forward or backward ‘C’ shape, wrapping the floss around each tooth.
5. Use a Mouthwash
A mouthwash can go where toothbrushes and floss can’t in order to rid your mouth of the same debris that irritates the gum line and causes gingivitis. Add this mouthwash to your oral care regimen to get the most thorough clean you can, even when you’re on the go.
6. Clean Your Brush
You don’t need special equipment or covers to keep the brush itself clean. Instead, just rinse your brush after each use and allow it to air dry. You should also avoid sharing brushes with others, even your kids.
7. Change Your Brush
Bristles deteriorate with time and usage, so if you’re using the same toothbrush beyond a few months, you may not be getting the best clean anymore. Rather, make a point of getting a new brush every three to four months – or at your semiannual dental checkup.
8. Use a Tongue Scraper
Some toothbrushes now come with a ridged tooth-scraper on the back of the brush, And after brushing, bacteria can still remain on the tongue, so be sure to brush or scrape your tongue as part of your daily routine. Not only will it banish bacteria, but cleaning your tongue can also help freshen your breath.
9. Stop Snacking
Hungry for a midnight snack? Brushing well may clear your teeth of bacteria and food particles, but if you eat a snack afterward, you’ll need to brush again before bed. Having a snack before sleep (without brushing) can allow food particles and sugar to remain on your teeth for too long, providing fuel for bacteria that feeds on it.
10. Regular Dentist Visit
See your dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease. Talk to your dentist about what types of dental products will be most effective for you.
We at Emerald Dental Surgery hope that this post has helped you in some way to understand more about dental hygiene. In case you have any questions about dental hygiene, contact us today. Call 0700609078 or 0731609078 to book an appointment with one of our dentists. They will be happy to help you and answer any questions you have.
