Your dental health matters, as it can greatly affect your general health. You should brush your teeth for you, but if you experience a lot of stress and anxiety about going to the dentist, you want to brush to impress them too!
Here are some tips for brushing your teeth that will make your next dental appointment go smoothly. These tips will also help you achieve a healthier smile.
Floss Regularly
You know you need to brush your teeth, and you know that you should brush twice a day. You probably know that you should floss too, but that’s where most people drop the ball.
Although flossing every once in a while is better than not flossing at all, you really need to floss every time you brush. For extra plaque fighting power, floss before you brush. That way, you can brush away all the plaque you just cleared out from between your teeth.
Hate using traditional dental floss on your teeth? It isn’t easy, and it can be painful! Instead, consider a water flosser. Not only are they more comfortable, but they’re also easier to use. They have also been shown to be more effective than traditional floss. They can get rid of 99.9 percent of plaque, which makes water flossers 50 percent more effective!
Use a Softer Toothbrush
It would make sense that if you really want to combat the plaque and tartar in your mouth, a stiffer bristle toothbrush would be a better choice. That’s rarely the case.
For most people, a softer toothbrush is better than a medium or firm bristle brush. Stiffer bristles can actually damage your gums, and they can wear away the protective enamel on your teeth.
A regular old toothbrush will do, but if you want to make sure your toothbrush is as effective as possible, you may want to consider an electric toothbrush instead. Although most don’t clean your teeth any better than a traditional toothbrush, studies have shown that a rotation oscillation toothbrush with bristles that go around as well as back and forth, is more effective than the manual variety.
Brush Longer
How long do you brush your teeth? Chances are, you don’t brush for as long as you should.
The average person brushes their teeth for 45 seconds. Although that can keep your mouth cleaner than not brushing at all, it will show your dentist that you aren’t taking care of your mouth like you should. If you want your teeth to be as clean as possible, you should brush your teeth for two minutes.
Struggling to brush your teeth for a full two minutes? A few tips include:
- Setting a timer for two minutes
- Playing your favorite song that’s at least two minutes long
- Concentrating on brushing each tooth
- Having a method you follow, like brushing front then back, or top to bottom
Chew Gum Between Meals
It’s hard to imagine your dentist recommending gum as a way to keep your mouth clean, but it can really help. You just have to make sure you choose the right kind of gum.
When you choose a sugar-free gum or a brand that uses Xylitol, it can clear away acid that is left over from your meal without damaging your teeth. Gum can also activate saliva production, which can protect your mouth against dental erosion.
Chewing gum should never replace brushing and flossing your teeth, but your dentist is likely to notice a difference in your dental health if you chew gum between meals. It’s the best way to clean out your mouth when you don’t have access to a toothbrush.
Brush Your Tongue
There’s one spot in your mouth that you’re missing when you brush—your tongue! Your dentist wants you to take care of your entire mouth, not just your teeth, which includes your tongue.
Not brushing your tongue can lead to:
- Halitosis, which is also known as bad breath
- Duller taste buds
- Oral thrush, which is a yeast infection
- An increased risk of gingivitis and gum disease
Use your regular toothbrush to brush your tongue right before you’re done brushing. If you really want to keep your tongue clean, consider adding a tongue scraper to your routine.
Taking care of your teeth will make your dentist happy, but it will make you happier too. It will make sure your next appointment goes smoothly, and a healthier mouth is not only more beautiful, but it will also positively impact your overall health too.