Keeping Teeth Clean In-between Professional Cleanings

There’s this triumphant feeling you get when you walk out of your dentist’s office knowing fully well that you have a clean bill of dental health. Yeah, you’ve probably had that feeling so many times and even look forward to it after each visit to your dentist.

Your teeth might be clean for the moment, but don’t forget that the minute you take the next food or drink into your mouth, the battle for oral hygiene begins afresh. So how do you keep your teeth clean in-between professional cleanings?

How do you ensure that you don’t undo all the hours of work your dentist has put in on your teeth? Interested in knowing more? Keep reading to find out!

Tips for Maintaining Good Oral hygiene from home

Going to the dentist is crucial for your oral hygiene. But unfortunately, you can’t spend all the days of your life with your dentist unless, of course, you’re a dentist. Nonetheless, for the rest of us who don’t have the opportunity to be part of the noble profession, here are several tips that can help you maintain good oral hygiene from home.

Brush Effectively

Brushing your teeth helps clean the teeth of food particles and bacteria that are lurking in your mouth. When brushing, use fluoride-based toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day, at night after eating, and any other time of the day.

Avoid making the common mistake of brushing from side to side when brushing. Instead, brush vertically using circular motions to reach every corner of your mouth.  

Floss properly

Brushing might be key to cleaning your teeth, but sadly it’s not enough to help you keep your teeth free and clean of food particles and bacteria. To clean your teeth effectively, you need to floss regularly, preferably after each meal and after brushing your teeth. If this seems like a chore for you, limit it to at least twice a day, once after brushing at night and probably after lunch.

Eat healthily

You might not know this, but the type and quality of food you eat have a crucial role in your oral hygiene. For example, soda and sugary foods attack your teeth by enriching the bacteria that cause tooth decay. These bacteria rely on sugar for their nutrients, subsequently producing acid that eats away at the enamel of your tooth. 

Rather than eating sugary foods, increase your intake of fruits like apples and carrots that help clean your teeth as you chew them. While you’re at it, throw in a couple of foods that contain calcium to help strengthen your teeth as well.

Practice Good Dental Habits

Good dental habits help protect your teeth and reduce your likelihood of getting periodontal diseases and cavities. Some of the good dental habits you can practice include:

Quit smoking

Smoking is not only crippling to your overall health but to your dental health as well. Smoking causes yellow stains on the teeth, which can affect your smile. It also exposes your gums to periodontal diseases due to the presence of nicotine and tar.

 Furthermore, smoking leaves your mouth dry, creating an environment where acid-producing bacteria can thrive and attack your teeth.

Change your toothbrush regularly

While brushing your teeth is important, it’s also crucial that you change your toothbrush regularly or at least once in 3 months. You can check the bristles of your toothbrush to see if they are frayed and change them once you notice they become weak. 

Using a frayed toothbrush is ineffective in terms of cleaning the teeth properly. Also, use toothbrushes with soft bristles and small heads so that you can comfortably reach those tough spots easily without injuring your gums.

Use mouthwash

Mouthwash contains fluoride and other substances that help protect your teeth from decay. Use mouthwash to rinse after each meal and at night after brushing. Oh, and try to chew sugar-free gums once in a while. They stimulate saliva production, which helps protect the mouth from bacteria.

Bottomline

Keeping your teeth clean is essential to your oral hygiene, no doubt. However, you need the services of a professional to ensure that you’re on the right track. A professional dental clinic can help you check your oral hygiene routine and steer you towards the right practices that will reduce your likelihood of encountering dental problems in the future.