Your teeth and gums are extremely important to your overall health. In order to keep your teeth healthy, you need to develop a daily oral care routine.
Without a proper routine, you are at risk of developing tooth decay or gum diseases, such as gingivitis. Many people are aware that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, but there are a lot more steps and tips that keep your teeth in tip-top shape.
Floss Once a Day
Along with brushing daily, you should also floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing gets in between your teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach, which can leave behind food particles and plaque build-up. The leftover build-up can not only cause bad breath but also cavities and eventually gum disease.
You may brush your teeth regularly but forget or neglect to floss, but you should treat flossing as important as brushing since it cleans your teeth in a similar manner as brushing. Flossing cleans your teeth and helps stimulate your gums, providing protection and keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Use Mouthwash
Much like the daily benefits associated with daily flossing, you can experience better overall oral health by using mouthwash once a day. If you brush and floss your teeth as recommended, you may not have to use mouthwash every single day. But it does help freshen your breath and get rid of harmful bacteria that build up in your mouth.
Your toothbrush and floss may not read every single area of your mouth, but a mouthwash can help hard-to-reach places. This is not a substitute for brushing your teeth. But it does help to bring balance to your overall dental health routine.
Pay Attention to Your Tongue
Just like plaque can build on your teeth and gums, it can build on your tongue as well. Plaque is a sticky substance where bacteria build in your mouth. It can cause a variety of problems for your oral health.
Each time you brush your teeth, you should gently brush your tongue. You could also use a tongue scraper for the same effect. A tongue scraper is a curved tool made of plastic or metal that allows you to gently scrape away the plaque from your tongue.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
The harmful bacteria that live in your mouth feed off of sugar. The more sugar you have in your diet, the more fuel you are feeding the bacteria that wreak havoc on your oral health.
The bacteria will create an acid that causes cavities and gum disease, so it is important to reduce the amount of added sugar from your diet. At the very least, you should brush your teeth each time you eat or drink foods with high sugar content.
Increase Your Water Intake
Water doesn’t just help your body stay hydrated; it can keep your mouth healthy as well. Without enough water, you can develop a dry mouth. Dry mouth has numerous harmful effects, including bad breath, tooth decay, or gum disease. Drinking water can also help to wash away some of the effects of eating or drinking acidic or sugary foods in between brushing your teeth.