The health of our mouths is often overlooked. We know that we’re supposed to brush twice a day and that some foods will cause more staining or sensitivity than others, but how can we be sure that our mouths are as healthy as they can be?
Read our 6 top dental hygiene tips for achieving a healthy mouth.
- Use the right brushing technique
Brushing your teeth may be basic common knowledge, but even if you’re brushing for two minutes twice a day, but you might not be using the right brushing technique. Getting the technique right will ensure your entire mouth is clean and this is essential for achieving a healthy mouth.
When brushing your teeth you should angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line. You should brush up and down and backwards and forwards on both sides of the teeth, firmly but not too roughly.
Also, you should also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth for an all-around clean. This will mean that there are less bacteria in your mouth, which will combat bad breath.
2. Visit the dentist regularly
Whether or not you enjoy attending the dentist regularly, it’s a sure-fire way to ensure your mouth is as healthy as can be. Book in for a dental checkup with your local HCF ethical dentist in Central Coast at least once or twice a year so that a dental expert can check you are cleaning your mouth well enough and that there aren’t any complications that have gone undetected. Your dentist may also offer you professional teeth cleaning which will make the world of difference to the wellbeing of your mouth.
3. Use an electric toothbrush
If you like using a traditional manual toothbrush, by all means, you should. Just be sure to get the brushing technique right (see #1). Alternatively, you will experience amazing benefits when you use an electric toothbrush.
The benefit of an electric toothbrush is that it gives your teeth and mouth a thorough clean efficiently. Also, most electric toothbrushes operate on a timer so that you can be sure you’ve brushed them for a full two minutes.
4. Floss regularly
Another tip for achieving a healthy mouth is to floss regularly. Whereas brushing cleans the surface of the teeth, flossing cleans the gaps in between the teeth and removes food residue and other debris. This is incredibly important because a build-up of food can become infected and rot the tooth’s enamel, causing more serious issues later down the line.
To improve the overall health of your mouth, you should get into a good habit of flossing every day after brushing.
5. Eat teeth-friendly foods
Aside from brushing and flossing and booking in regular checkups at the dentist, there is something else that should be considered day-to-day – how eating certain foods can affect the health of our mouth.
There are some foods that are marginally better for our teeth than others. These include fruit (especially apples), vegetables, cheese, nuts and chicken. It’s also been said that cheese and apples are natural teeth cleaners; cheese causes your salivary gland to produce more saliva which helps to neutralize the acid in your mouth, and when you bite into an apple you are inadvertently giving your teeth a good scrub.
6. Steer clear of harmful foods
Now you know which foods are teeth-friendly, you should also be aware which foods are harmful to your mouth.
The obvious harmful foods are sweets and sugary drinks and coffee and tea. These foods will break down the enamel of your teeth and cause serious issues such as gum disease, not to mention will cause bad breath and staining. If you feel like your teeth are rotting from too much of the above foods, seek professional advice as soon as possible.
Tobacco is another substance that will cause serious harm to your mouth, and constant exposure to tobacco can, in the worst-case scenario, lead to oral cancer. Steer clear of these substances and your mouth will stay healthy!
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