Key Oral Hygiene Tips to Remember

Your oral hygiene is crucial, particularly when it comes to looking after your health in general. When you don’t take care of your oral hygiene, you’re more likely to encounter issues with your teeth, the rest of your mouth, and other parts of the body too.

To help ensure you’re looking after your oral hygiene, at any age, it’s worthwhile knowing what tips are going to keep your oral care in good shape. Remember, you only have one set of adult teeth to last you for the rest of your life, so everything you do to keep them in good condition is crucial.

Why is It Important to Keep My Mouth Clean?

There are a number of reasons why you should be keeping your mouth clean. Not taking care of your oral health can result in a number of issues both in your appearance and with the rest of your physical health.

Imperative for good health

If you neglect your oral hygiene, you could put your body at greater risk of infection. Plus, there’s nothing worse than experiencing tooth or gum pain, and these can be made worse by rotting or infected teeth.

By keeping a sanitary mouth, you’re going to ensure your teeth and gums remain in good condition for the rest of your life.

A strong smile

With good oral care and hygiene, you’ll become the envy of all your loved ones every time you smile. A strong smile is only achieved when you’re taking good care of your teeth and gums. Of course, there are a lot of great cosmetic procedures you can have in dentistry nowadays, but being able to achieve a strong smile just from taking good care of your teeth is rewarding and cost-efficient.

Disease prevention

Great oral hygiene is going to help prevent many of the nasty diseases that you can get from poor oral care. Conditions like tooth decay, gingivitis, and total tooth loss are all things you definitely want to avoid. Staying healthy and taking care of your gums and teeth helps build a strong line of defense against harmful bacteria that can cause these conditions.

What Are Some Good Oral Hygiene Tips?

So, what good oral hygiene tips are worth knowing? If you want to keep your teeth in good shape for longer and avoid any unnecessary dental trips due to poor oral care, here are some essential keys to keep in mind.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth should be something you do after every meal, but most will brush their teeth twice a day. This is once in the morning and once in the evening, ideally using a fluoride toothpaste. In small doses, fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and decreases the rate of tooth decay (along with the number of cavities an average person may get).

When it comes to brushing your teeth effectively, spend at least two minutes on your teeth and gums. Make sure you’re using a soft-bristled brush and apply enough force to scrape away all of the debris, but not too much to the point that it causes bleeding.

It’s also important to replace your toothbrush every two to three months (or whenever the bristles start to fray).

Floss Your Teeth Every Day

While many people will brush their teeth twice a day, not everyone thinks to floss their teeth. Flossing is an important part of your oral hygiene routine because it prevents food that your toothbrush can’t remove from staying trapped in between the teeth.

When this happens, bacteria are going to be attracted to the debris, meaning the processes of gum disease and tooth decay will be sped up as a result. Flossing your teeth every day after brushing your teeth is something you definitely should be doing. You’ll notice a big difference in the appearance and cleanliness of your teeth as a result.

It’s worth speaking to your dentist or seeking online advice when it comes to the method of flossing your teeth. It may take a little practice to get used to it, but once you get into the habit of it, it will become second nature to your cleaning routine.

Use a Whitening Mouth Rinse or Anticavity Mouthwash

Alongside flossing your teeth, it’s important to also follow up with a whitening mouth rinse or anticavity mouthwash. Both are great for helping improve the overall health of your mouth and help rid your mouth of any debris left behind by the flossing.

Whitening mouth rinses help to remove and prevent enamel stains caused by dark substances like tea, coffee, soda, and red wine. They have natural ingredients that help protect your teeth and gums from the buildup of plaque or tartar.

If you opt for an anticavity mouthwash, you’ll find that this fluoride-rich formula is an effective rinse to help prevent cavities. It also helps restore enamel and strengthens your teeth in general. Spend about 60 seconds swirling around the mouthwash before spitting it out.

Go to the Dentist for a Standard Cleaning Twice Per Year

While not everyone enjoys visiting the dentist, it’s a necessity to help ensure your oral health is being monitored. You never know what issues might be underlying, even if you’re not in any physical pain.

It’s important to visit a dentist for a standard cleaning twice per year. Spacing your visits out six months apart helps you stay on top of your oral health and get a routine professional opinion about the state of your teeth.

These two visits each year, along with the tips recommended to keep your oral hygiene in good condition, should help you avoid dental problems and stay healthy.

Find the Best Dentist in Idaho Falls at Family Dental Health Center

To help keep your oral hygiene in good check, you’ll want to visit one of the best dentists in Idaho Falls. Here at Family Dental Health Center, we help all our patients keep their mouths clean and prevent dental diseases or other problems from occurring.

03 Apr 2023

General Dental Care