7 Excellent Dental Hygiene Tips for a More Intensive Clean

Keeping your mouth in optimal health requires good oral hygiene. For a more intensive clean and a much brighter smile, stick to the following tips:

Brush your teeth twice a day

You’ve heard it since you were small — always brush your teeth, and it is as true today as it ever was. To make your brushing even more useful, be sure you are doing it correctly. Dentists say you should use small light strokes to brush your teeth. Be gentle and thorough, and brush for at least 2 minutes. Don’t neglect your back teeth. Additionally, be sure to recognize the signs of brushing your teeth too hard, these could cause some potentially harmful side effects to your gums and teeth.

It is also important to brush more than once a day. Brushing in the morning helps to clear away plaque and bacteria that accumulate during the night. It also helps with a little thing called morning breath. Brushing at night before bed is also essential. Food particles stay in between your teeth while you sleep and turn into bacterial hotspots, which can create plaque and lead to tooth decay.

Switch to an electric toothbrush

The oscillating and vibrating motion of an electric toothbrush seems to do a better job cleaning your teeth than a regular manual toothbrush. If you are looking for a deep clean, it might be worth considering making the switch. Researchers have also found that electric toothbrushes clean up to 21% more plaque from teeth than manual toothbrushes.

Floss every day

To make sure your teeth are super clean, not only is it important to brush twice a day, but you need to floss. Flossing gets in between your teeth and clears away food particles that your toothbrush can’t reach. It also gets below the gum line to clear away plaque and bacteria. To keep your mouth squeaky clean, don’t skip the floss.

Use a mouthwash

Mouthwash is effective for rinsing away small particles, and bacteria and keeping your mouth and breath minty fresh. Alcohol-based mouthwashes are great at initially killing stinky plaque-causing bacteria, but they can also have a drying effect on your mouth. A non-alcohol based mouthwash will also keep your mouth feeling fresh and avoid dehydration, which ironically can cause an increase in harmful bacteria and contribute to bad breath.

Snack on some fresh crunchy fruits and vegetables

Instead of reaching for a cookie or a sandwich as a midnight snack, consider munching on some crunchy carrots? Fresh vegetables are packed with healthy vitamins that are good for your oral health, and they also act as toothbrushes, clearing away food particles and bacteria as you chew. Also, because of the crunch, they give your jaw and gums an excellent workout.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

If you can’t get to a toothbrush in between meals, chew on a piece of sugarless gum. The chewing action increases saliva production, which helps to kill bacteria, and it also clears away food particles that might be stuck in your teeth. Just be sure that your gum is sugarless for maximum cleaning effect.

Keep your regular dental appointment

Your dentist, like Legacy Orthodontics, the best Orthodontics in Edmonton, is an expert on keeping your mouth and teeth clean and fresh. They can provide deep cleaning and clear away accumulated plaque and tartar, but they can also make sure that you are brushing and flossing most effectively.

Your dentist can also keep an eye on any underlying issues and take preventative measures before they get worse. These routine checkups are the best way to make sure you are practicing good dental hygiene and have the cleanest mouth possible.