Celebrate National Dental Hygiene month with these oral hygiene habits.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month and that means we’re here to celebrate by once again putting a focus on the importance of proper oral hygiene! Our goal is to help every person who visits our facility reduce their chances of cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues.
If you want to keep your body and teeth healthy, then oral hygiene must always be one of your top priorities. Today, we’re going to look at some dental care habits that you should make part of your regular routine.
Brush Your Teeth Twice Per Day
Brushing your teeth twice a day is the most basic way to practice good oral hygiene. For the best results, it’s recommended that you use a fluoride toothpaste, which will more effectively help you prevent tooth decay. Keep in mind that brushing your teeth can’t do the job alone, so it’s important that this is only one part of your daily routine.
Brush Your Teeth Properly
Although brushing your teeth is a basic rule of dental care, you must learn to always do it well. Instead of brushing up and down or back and forth, you should be moving the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions. It’s also best if you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid removing tooth enamel or hurting your gums.
Floss Your Teeth Once Per Day
Many types of foods are notorious for getting stuck between our teeth. This is a primary cause of cavities, so it’s essential to add flossing to your daily dental health routine because it allows you to dislodge those food particles and remove plaque. If you brush and floss every day, you’ll go a long way to protecting your teeth from damage.
Always Brush Before Bedtime
We’re definitely hitting the point hard here, but this shows you how important it is that you brush your teeth. The problem is that many people lead somewhat busy or even hectic lives and have a tendency to go to bed without brushing first. It’s imperative that you don’t do this because brushing your teeth at night will remove germs and plaque that has accumulated throughout the day.
Add Mouthwash to Your Routine
Besides proper brushing and flossing, it’s also recommended that you clean your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash each day. This is especially useful for children and elderly men and women who may have problems with regular dental care. Just remember that no matter what age you are, mouthwash should never be used as a replacement for brushing and flossing.
Brush Your Tongue Each Day
Your tongue definitely isn’t invulnerable to plaque and food particles that can cause damage to your teeth. This can also be a source of bad breath and lead to other oral hygiene and health problems. You have two choices here – either use your toothbrush to clean it or pick up a dedicated tooth scraper for the job.
Get Some Help with Flossing
It isn’t uncommon for people to get frustrated with flossing because they can’t do it properly. The biggest problem is that gaps between your teeth can be a bit tight, but this can be solved by purchasing a special type of floss such as a product called Glide. If you have any health issues that can make holding the floss and moving it around difficult, pick up some packages of ready-to-use dental flosser from a local drugstore.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
If you want to prevent cavities, then you should either reduce or completely cut sugary foods and drinks from your diet. Sugar – especially high-fructose corn syrup found in sodas – will eat away at your tooth enamel and can lead to tooth loss and other dental health issues. It’s okay to indulge sometimes, but make sure you brush afterwards.
See Your Dentist Twice Per Year
It isn’t unusual for someone to not see a dentist for several years, which means when they do, they often have dental issues that are both severe and costly. Part of your oral care routine should include at least two visits to the dentist each year so that he or she can examine your teeth and get x-rays. You should also use each of these two visits for a dental cleaning.
Drink Plenty of Water Each Day
No matter what types of special drinks manufacturers come up with, water continues to be the healthiest beverage. Besides to improving your health and helping to promote weight loss, water is effective in helping your teeth stay clean. Even if you don’t drink water with a particular meal, be sure to consume some immediately afterwards because it will wash away food particles, acids, and sugars.
Avoid Highly Acidic Foods
Although they’re typically not as bad for you as sugary drinks, foods that are high in acid such as some fruits can also damage tooth enamel. Since many of these types of foods have plenty of health benefits, it’s probably best that you reduce your intake instead of cutting them out of your diet completely.
Don’t Smoke or Chew Tobacco
It will probably come as no surprise that smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco are both terrible for your teeth and gums. Smoking can turn your teeth yellow and may cause gum disease while chewing tobacco can damage your gums and entire mouth. It’s best for your dental care and health to refrain from either of these activities.
Contact Dr. Ferullo for Help with Oral Hygiene
Dr. Ferullo can assist you with achieving good oral hygiene and keeping your teeth and gums healthy. If you have any questions, I would like to set up an appointment, call our St. Petersburg dentist office at (727) 822-8101 today to schedule an appointment.
