Everyday oral hygiene is essential for the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth as a whole! While almost everyone knows that you should be brushing your teeth twice per day, there are some other everyday oral health practices that seem to be overlooked. In this article, we’ll offer you a few tips on what you can do to keep up with your at-home oral health!
Flossing
Flossing helps remove debris and plaque from between the teeth and is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once per day, however, many people overlook flossing when they are doing their daily oral health routines. Flossing helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and more, so you should be sure to floss every single day!
Fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and can prevent (and even reverse) decay. For this reason, you should always use toothpaste, mouthwash, and other oral hygiene products that contain fluoride.
Healthy Diet
Something that is often overlooked when people think about their everyday oral hygiene is the food & drinks that they are consuming. Maintaining a healthy diet is not only essential for your mental and physical health, but it can also benefit the health of your teeth & gums. When a person eats an excessive amount of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, acid forms in the mouth and leads to tooth decay. Limiting your intake of these sugar & carbohydrate-heavy foods is essential for your everyday oral health!
Toothbrush
One more tip for your everyday oral health practices is to use a high quality toothbrush that is in good condition. When shopping for a toothbrush, be sure to select one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means that the product demonstrates safety and efficacy. The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or more often if the bristles are visibly matted or frayed. Using a good quality toothbrush will help ensure that you are cleaning your mouth to the best of your ability!
Contact Gentle Dental Maine!
If you have any questions about good oral hygiene practices, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine! Our family dentists specialize in general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry services at each of our offices in South Portland, Biddeford, and Topsham. Give us a call at any one of our offices, or if you’re not yet a patient with us, please fill out the new patient form on our website!