Good oral hygiene not only affords you a bright smile, but it also helps keep your teeth strong and healthy.

While brushing helps ensure your mouth stays clean and fresh, it only does 25% of the work. Therefore you still need to incorporate other healthy oral practices like flossing and rinsing—and don’t forget the routine visit to your dentist.  

Below are seven useful dental tips to help you ensure good dental hygiene:

1 – As Mama said, brush your teeth twice a day

Tooth brushing is an inevitable part of good dental health, which also offers you the benefit of a bright and welcoming smile.

Though most people adhere to the “twice a day brushing” rule, many still suffer from gingivitis and gum related diseases. The reason? Poor brushing.

Take your time, at least two minutes for every brushing session. Gently move the toothbrush in a circular motion to help clear all the plaque. When correctly done, brushing helps prevent the build-up and hardening of plaque, which in turn, can lead to plaque build-up and gum inflammation.

2 – Clean your tongue with a scraper tool

Bacteria can build up on an unbrushed tongue. As a result, it causes oral health problems; among them, mouth odor.

Other than removing bacteria and battling bad breath, regular scraping of the tongue helps improve your tongue’s appearance, and sense of taste as well as boosting your overall health.

And although a toothbrush also does well when it comes to tongue cleaning, research studies prove that a tongue scraper is the most effective and efficient tool. These tools come in plastic and metal forms.

3 – Make flossing a habit

Just like brushing, flossing should be part of your daily oral hygiene routine to ensure a healthy mouth.

It helps remove stuck food particles from the teeth, reduces plaque, and also lowers cases of gum inflammation.

Flossing once a day is sufficient to keep your mouth clean and fresh (although I’d secretly love to see you floss twice daily!).

Consider the ready-to-use dental flossing picks if you experience difficulties in flossing due to arthritis or other medical conditions. The ready-to-use dental flossers can also be used on young children but with adult supervision.

However, note that flossing shouldn’t be used as an alternative to brushing, but instead, as a supplement.

4 – Rinse twice daily

Rinsing your mouth with an oral rinse twice per day helps fight bacteria and freshens your breath.

Alcohol-free oral rinses are specifically useful for the eradication of the anaerobic bacteria. This bacteria hides in the hard-to-reach places like the tonsils.

Generally, the use of mouthwash for daily rinsing helps re-mineralize the teeth, clean the hard-to-brush areas, and also reduce acid levels in the mouth.

It’s an excellent option for young children and the elderly who find brushing and flossing a challenge.

5 – Consider teeth-friendly diet

Cut down your consumption of acidic and sugary foods and colas. They may be sweet to the taste, but they are, indeed, harmful in the long-run. These foods create a situation of too much acid in your mouth environment. And that can lead to enamel erosion, which eventually causes cavities.

Consider eating fresh and crunchy produce (such as vegetables and fruits) as they’re rich in healthy fiber. The crunchiness of such foods helps remove food particles caught between your teeth while also washing away any bacteria clinging to your gums.

6 – Stay hydrated

Drinking water is not only good for your oral health but your overall health as well.

Besides your regular water intake, consider drinking some after every meal to help wash out sticky and acidic food substances in between brushes. 

7 – Schedule a dental visit every six months

In addition to your daily oral health practices, it’s crucial to schedule a semi-annual dental check-up. This appointment enables your dentist to catch any potential dental issues. Therefore, they can offer treatment at the earliest opportunity.

It also helps with cleaning and removal of the hardened tartar, thus leaving your teeth clean and healthy.

Final thoughts on maintaining oral hygiene

Dental hygiene is a simple but often the most overlooked practice when it comes to individual health betterment.

As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” And indeed, it’s way cheaper than treatment. So, why not take the earliest opportunity to prevent serious oral health problems associated with poor dental hygiene? 

Implementing the above tips is the surest and most effective way to ensure sound oral health.

If you’re ready to get your smile back into the spotlight, get in touch with us today.