As we begin 2021, we thought it was a great time to share some simple, but really important habits to include in your daily oral hygiene routine.
Now is the perfect time to re-evaluate your oral hygiene. You may know all of these healthy habits, but are you doing them each and every day? Let’s see which areas you are doing great with, and see if we can spot some missed opportunities that you could work on.
Why are these important?
Poor oral hygiene over time will lead to gum disease. Depending on the severity, gum disease can be very painful. Gingivitis is the less severe form of gum disease, with periodontal disease being more severe and can lead to tooth loss.
If you feel you have gum disease, you may be able to get rid of it by following the below steps. However, we do recommend seeing your dentist first to understand how bad the gum disease is.
Poor oral health can also lead to an onset of other health problems and diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and heart problems. Your mouth, after all, is the gateway to the rest of your body.
6 Healthy Habits to Include in Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Brush Twice a Day
Firstly, you should be brushing your teeth every morning and every evening. Brushing your teeth should last 2 minutes each time. This gives you 30 seconds for each section of your teeth.
Most people actually only last 30-45 seconds. The next time you are brushing your teeth, time yourself and see how long you last!
The length of time you spend brushing is important as it makes sure you have removed the plaque sufficiently. It also gives the fluoride enough time to stick to the teeth for added protection.
We recommend to brush your teeth before you have your breakfast, and at least 30 minutes after eating in the evening.
Brushing with the Right Technique
It is really important that you brush your teeth correctly. A gentle circular motion is more than enough to remove plaque and food particles. If you brush too hard, those two minutes of brushing will cause your teeth more harm than good. Adding more pressure will not clean your teeth any better, but you will be wearing away the enamel on your teeth. It can also cause receding gums.
We also recommend using a soft headed toothbrush. Medium and strong toothbrush heads can cause the same issues as mentioned above.
Use Floss or Interdental Brushes Once a Day
Use floss or interdental brushes once a day. Include this step whenever suits you best, whether it is in the morning or in the evening. We find that interdental brushes are the most effective, and probably a bit easier to use than floss.
By adding this step into your routine, you will ensure to remove any food particles in between your teeth. There are difficult to reach areas in the mouth that your toothbrush can’t get to.
Flossing/Interdental brushes and your toothbrush are the dream team to removing plaque from your mouth.
Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet
Avoid too many sugary foods throughout the day. If you find you are snacking on sugary foods a lot, try to substitute these with nutritional foods such as nuts or cheese.
You may think that the best thing to avoid cavities is to brush your teeth straight after you eat something sugary, but this can actually have an adverse effect on your teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth. The acid from the foods you are eating will soften your enamel. If you brush your teeth straight away, it will actually remove some of your enamel, softening your teeth. Make sure to wait before brushing.
For more information on the food we recommend to avoid, check out our blog on ‘Nutrition and Dental Health‘.
Regular Checkups
You should see your dentist every 6 months for a checkup. This will ensure that your dentist can spot any irregularities in your mouth, and provide you with a solution to fix it before it gets any worse. It will significantly reduce your chances of getting gum disease and needing further dental work.
See a dental hygienist
If you haven’t been to a hygienist in the last year, now would be a great time to get your teeth professionally cleaned. This will give you a great start when you implement all of the above steps into your routine. You will be certain you are starting with a clean canvas.
In Conclusion…
We can’t stress the importance of a thorough dental routine each and every day. By following the above steps, you will reduce the risk of gum disease. If you have any questions about your own oral hygiene routine or have any questions about gum disease, just get in touch. We would be happy to answer any of your questions.
