Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that there’s more to a great smile than just brushing and flossing your teeth everyday. Just in time for the holiday season, we’re doing a deep dive into the oral health care best practices you’ll want to take heed of for that dazzling smile.
See also: 7 Remedies to Reduce Post-Shave Irritation
Did you know that your oral health can have an impact on your overall health including issues like gum disease, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and even Alzheimer’s? If that isn’t enough to make you double check your routine, then you should know that bad teeth can affect the way people look at you too.
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Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush
Apart from keeping your toothbrush fresh (by changing it out every couple months), you’ll also want to toss any hard bristled toothbrushes in the trash right away. We know it might feel satisfying to give your chompers a good scrubbing but in reality you’ll actually be doing more harm than good. A soft bristled toothbrush works just the same as a hard one, but it won’t damage the important enamel layer of your teeth. Don’t brush with too much pressure either – it’s more about repeated strokes than how hard you press.
Don’t brush your teeth right away
You might have been told that brushing after meals is a good idea – and it is – but you need to wait at least a half hour before you do so. That’s because food and drink that are acidic (low pH level) soften your tooth enamel as you chew. That means, if you go straight for your toothbrush after eating, you could be doing irreparable damage to your enamel. Damaged enamel doesn’t only make your teeth more sensitive, but because it’s the main defence layer of your teeth, it also leaves them susceptible to decay. It’s been proven that people who waited to brush after eating showed less tooth decay than those who didn’t.
Stick to a brushing routine
It’s a good idea to brush your teeth systematically, meaning always starting in one corner of your mouth and moving around your mouth the same way every time you brush. This means you won’t miss any areas and all your teeth will get the attention they deserve. Our dentist at Martindale Dental recommends paying special attention to the rear molars too, as they trap a lot of food particles and sometimes don’t get enough brush.
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Don’t skip the floss
Apologies if we’re preaching to the choir here, but flossing is just as important to your oral hygiene as brushing. That’s because food particles and plaque like to hang out in the nooks and crannies between your teeth, where a toothbrush just can’t reach.
Add a mouthwash rinse to your gameplan
You’re brushing twice daily, flossing once, and you probably think that’s the perfect routine. Well false, you should add one more step into the mix and that’s an alcohol-free mouthwash. A good anti-bacterial mouthwash works to fight plaque by killing harmful bacteria. Swish your mouth for 30 seconds, twice every day to keep plaque at bay.
Don’t overdo-it with your toothbrush
Ok, so we’ve been hailing brushing as a necessary aspect – and it is – just don’t go overboard. By that we mean reaching for your toothbrush after every meal, which means you’ll end up scrubbing your teeth three or four times a day. While brushing is necessary, doing it too often can cause irritation to your gums and wear the enamel of your teeth too fast. Instead of brushing, rinse your mouth vigorously with fresh water instead.
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Eat fibrous food to clean your teeth
Things like apples, celery, carrots and any raw, hard, fibrous items are great to eat because they help scrub the surfaces of your teeth, removing plaque as you chew. The crunchier the food, the longer you’ll also have to chew, so the more saliva gets produced (to flush your mouth), and the lengthier scrubbing time your teeth get. Raw, healthy fruits and veggies are great for your overall and dietary gut health too.
Try to deny your sweet tooth
It’s no secret that sugary foods aren’t good for your body, especially your teeth. Plaque and bacteria feed on sugar, and it’s been shown that high sugar diets tend to lead to tooth decay and gum disease. The best would be to not eat or drink sugary stuff, but if you can’t avoid it, a good trick is to consume it all at once. That means, instead of sipping your coffee or soda over an hour-long time period, it’s better to drink it quickly. This is because your mouth can be rinsed (naturally through saliva, or by actively doing so), and then it’s clean, whereas repeated small sips just keep the sugary coating on your teeth for a longer length of time.
