Perhaps you´ve been hearing this since you were a young child, and maybe you find it tiresome. But here we are to tell you once again:
Brushing your teeth twice and flossing at least once a day is the basis of good oral hygiene. And, likewise, the lynchpin of good oral health.
But don´t fool yourself, although brushing and flossing your teeth it´s integral. You´re still a long way to go if you want to keep your smile bright, beautiful, and healthy.
Here, we´ll be sharing some simple tips on how to upgrade your oral hygiene. So you can keep your natural smile for many years.
Upgrading Your Oral Hygiene: 5 Simple Steps
Don´t rush to brush
The usual advice is to brush immediately after every meal. However, if you start your day with a glass of orange juice, you´d like to reconsider.
Acidic particles on some foods can soften (at least temporarily) tooth enamel. So, by immediately brushing your teeth, you might be doing more harm than good.
This way, you could be damaging tooth enamel, thus leaving your teeth vulnerable to tooth decay.
Avoid this by waiting between 30-60mins before brushing your teeth, especially if you´ve consumed wine, soda, tomatoes, or other acidic foods.
Choose the right toothbrush
You might be well aware that toothbrushes should be replaced every 2-3 months (sooner if bristles are damaged). But what you might be ignoring is that harder-bristled toothbrushes can be harmful.
Using a hard-bristled toothbrush could make your teeth feel cleaner. Sadly, it´s also very abrasive (and damaging), especially when combined with an over-vigorous tooth brushing technique.
Aside from being unnecessary, brushing too hard is prejudicial for your gums and teeth. Instead, switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush and adjust your technique.
Gently apply pressure with the toothbrush tilted at 45-degrees from the gum line. Then, from your back teeth, brush using short and circular motions.
Sugary beverage? Gulp it, don´t sip it
Although the idea is you should limit sugary drinks. Whenever you consume the occasional soda or sweet tea rather than sip it, it´s better to drink it all at once.
When you sip sugary beverages throughout the day, your mouth´s constantly exposed to sugar.
This sugar won´t only become a food source for bacteria. It also breaks down into lactic acid. This demineralises your teeth and makes them prone to tooth decay.
Eat raw, crunchy foods
Raw, fibrous foods help scrub your teeth´ surface, thus preventing the proliferation of plaque-causing bacteria. Also, they make you chew more, which promotes saliva production and neutralises acids in your mouth.
These recommended foods include crunchy vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, celery, apples, and carrots.
Keep your toothbrush holder clean
If you don´t wash it often, your toothbrush holder can be the perfect breeding ground for multiple bacteria present in your bathroom.
Recent research found that next to dish sponges and kitchen sinks. The third most germ-ridden household items are, in fact, toothbrush holders.
We recommend thoroughly cleaning toothbrush holders with hot, soapy water once a week.
And there you have it! Some simple tips for upgrading your oral hygiene routine so you can not only keep smiling. It´ll also improve your oral (and overall) health.
Suppose you have doubts about your dental care habits and want to upgrade your oral health routine. Feel free to contact us and schedule an appointment!
Our dental health team gladly puts their skill and experience at your service to establish which oral hygiene routine suits you best!
