10 Dental Hygiene Tips to Keep Your Smile Brighter
You know that you must brush and floss your teeth, which is a good start. However, there are many other things you need to know to keep your gums and teeth healthy, clean, shiny, and as hygienic as possible. Here are our top ten dental hygiene tips from South Anchorage Dental Clinic!
Need help keeping your teeth and gums at their best? Schedule an appointment with SADC for complete dental care!
Why Dental Hygiene Is Important
Although you may think of dental hygiene as something you do to make your teeth look better, it has many farther-reaching implications. If your mouth isn’t clean, your whole body can be attacked by germs. What’s more, if you end up losing teeth due to neglecting your oral health, it may limit the nutritious foods you can eat. Taking care of your dental hygiene is one way to be healthier overall.
The Top Ten Dental Hygiene Tips
At SADC, we love talking about dental hygiene. We have countless tips to help you keep your teeth cleaner and protect your oral health. For now, here are our top ten dental hygiene tips.
1. Floss before you brush
Many people consider flossing the finishing touch after brushing their teeth. However, research shows it’s more effective to floss before brushing. By flossing first, you loosen food and plaque from between your teeth. Then, when you brush, you can wash it all away.
2. Wait to brush until 30 to 60 minutes after eating or drinking coffee
If you’re really dedicated, you might think you should jump up and brush your teeth right after a meal. On the contrary, you should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. Why? Those 30 minutes allow the enamel in your teeth to build itself back up. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with water to feel cleaner and start the process of re-mineralizing your enamel.
3. Be sure to floss at night
You may have heard that you should floss at least once a day. When should you do it, though? We recommend that, if you floss only once a day, you floss before bedtime. This ensures your mouth is cleaner as you sleep. Of course, if you have time, it’s great to floss both morning and night.
4. Brush your teeth after every meal, if possible
Not everyone has the time or facilities to brush their teeth after every meal. Of course, it’s ideal if you can. However, even if you can’t manage to brush in the middle of your workday or activities, you should still brush your teeth twice a day.
5. Avoid foods that are bad for dental hygiene
Some foods can do significant damage to your oral health. For example, coffee can cause stains, and its acid can erode the teeth. This and other foods and beverages can damage your teeth over time. So, this section of our dental hygiene tips lists foods you should avoid.
- Candy, cookies, cakes, and other sugary treats
- Soft drinks – both full-sugar and diet sodas
- Coffee and tea
- Sports or energy drinks
- Wine
- Citrus fruits and their juices
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Tomato-based pasta sauce
- Chewing ice
6. Be selective about mouthwashes
Mouthwash can help you keep your mouth cleaner and minimize bad breath. Unfortunately, getting the wrong kind of mouthwash can dry out your mouth, increasing cavities and creating even more dental woes. Choose an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid this drying effect. It’s also a good idea to choose an anti-bacterial mouthwash.
7. Brush your tongue
Your tongue accumulates germs like a sponge soaks up water. So, brush your tongue each time you brush your teeth. This will not only make your mouth cleaner but will help you feel fresher at the same time. Plus, it might make it easier to experience the true flavor of the next thing you eat or drink.
8. Avoid smoking
Smoking damages your gums and teeth. Nicotine stains can accumulate quickly if you smoke often. Yet, the damage can be much more severe. Smoking also allows germs to stay on your teeth longer, leading to plaque and tartar, which can cause both tooth decay and gum disease.
9. Drink plenty of water
Water is good for your body and the healthiest drink for your teeth. Juice, soda, tea, coffee, and most other beverages have the potential to stain your teeth or cause erosion. Drinking water helps you avoid these adverse effects. Plus, if you drink water after every time you eat, you can wash away sweet, sticky, or acidic foods before they can cause damage.
10. Eat these crunchy foods
Crunchy foods make great snacks. Even better, they can help scrub less healthy substances from your teeth. Make it a habit to munch on crunchy fruits and vegetables daily to brighten and strengthen your teeth. Great examples of crunch foods to incorporate include carrots, apples, and celery.
Is It Too Late to Have a Beautiful Smile?
Perhaps your dental hygiene has been a bit lacking in the past. Does that mean it’s too late for you to have a bright, beautiful smile? Not at all. In fact, if you already have cavities or gum disease, we have several treatment options to restore your oral health. Teeth whitening, veneers, dental bonding, dental implants, and crowns are just of a few of the treatments we can utilize for more severe damage. And of course, regular dental appointments and preventative care are important for marring your smile further.
Adopting the above dental hygiene tips now could save you the cost of extensive dental work later. It can also help you avoid the pain that comes with cavities. And by the way, it’s much easier to maintain an attractive smile than restore it after you neglected your oral health for too long.
On the other hand, maybe you’ve cared for your teeth as well as you knew how. In that case, these tips will help you do an even better job of preserving your dental health in the future. After all, you want your teeth to last your entire life. Giving them the care and attention they deserve can keep them strong and bright long-term.
South Anchorage Dental Clinic Brightens Your Smile!
At South Anchorage Dental Clinic, we can advise you on all the facets of dental hygiene. Remember, even people who take good care of their teeth need an examination and cleaning at least once every six months. We strive to make this basic dental care and other services accessible to all in our area by accepting most dental insurance and offering our SADC dental savings plan.
Bring your questions about dental hygiene to our team at SADC! We understand that there are a lot of rumors out there. That’s why we’re here to advise you and help you make better dental hygiene decisions. With the right dental care, your smile will become cleaner, brighter, and healthier!Want to know how a dentist helps you keep your smile brighter? Contact us at SADC to set up a consultation!
