Having a great oral care habits is one of the best things you can do for your future self. It might seem like a hassle to brush, floss, and gargle with mouth rinses several times a day, visit your general dentist every six months, and so on. However, picture yourself 20 years from now if you don’t dedicate a few minutes to teeth time every day. Your winning smile won’t get you as far if you have brown, cracked teeth– or maybe all your teeth missing– because you didn’t go through the hassle of taking care of them. Give yourself the gift of good oral hygiene:
- Brush Those Pearly Whites
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is the best way to remove the bacteria that turns into the plaque that decays your teeth. On a good day, there are more bacterial micro-organisms in the your mouth than there are humans on the entire planet. Each little bacteria bug can multiply itself over and over until your mouth is teeming with bacteria. By brushing your teeth, you are effectively hitting the ‘reset’ button on your mouth’s established bacterial colonies. After you clear out that icky bacteria, they slowly repopulate when you eat and breath in germs, which is why you should brush at least twice a day. - Floss, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
At least one in every three adults admit that they never floss their teeth– those are just the people who admit it. Your teeth feel pretty great after brushing, and flossing can be a real hassle. Technically, you don’t need to floss all of your teeth; just the ones you want to keep. Brushing just doesn’t get the food, buildup, and bacteria that hides in the crevices between your teeth. By flossing daily, you are really giving the plaque that leads to decay an eviction notice. - Follow Brushing and Flossing With Regular Mouth Rinses
Mouth rinses that contain chlorine dioxide are effective for removing more bacteria than simply brushing can. The burning sensation that is experienced while using mouth rinses creates a hostile environment for bacteria to survive in, even after you’re done using it. This is why your breath feels especially fresh after you’ve gargled.
Not all mouth rinses are created equally; some are just flavored water that mostly just mask the funk. Make sure that your mouth wash includes fluoride if you want to use it as a tool to keep your teeth healthy. - Watch What You Put In Your Body
As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Your body uses the ingredients you give it to regenerate its cells and repair damage. If your diet is rich in bone-building minerals such as calcium and vitamin D, your bones (including your teeth) will have the ingredients needed to stay strong and healthy.
On the other hand, if you consume junk food, soda, and sugary substances, you are introducing acid that breaks down the enamel of your teeth to your mouth. If you can’t resist a cheat moment every now and then, make it a habit of thoroughly cleansing your mouth with water afterwards.If you are a smoker, you can add your teeth and gums to the list of things that are begging you to stop. Tobacco is a huge contributor to periodontal issues and disease, including oral cancer.
- Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
Don’t be embarrassed if you feel anxiety welling up in the pit of your stomach at the thought of a hygienist digging around your mouth with tools that look like devices of torture. Studies show that more than 10% of adults refuse to go to the dentist at all because they are afraid of it. However, having your teeth professionally cleaned and examined every six months is the best way to avoid issues that would result in anxiety-inducing pain.
If just having your teeth cleaned is so painful that you resist going at all, it might be a good time to find a new dentist. While some dentists are better suited to be butchers, some understand the natural fear people experience with dental visits and focus on making the experience pleasant and relaxing.
Do you have any good oral hygiene tips? Please share them in the comment section below.