5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy

Keeping on top of your oral hygiene should be your priority, no matter what age you are.

Maintaining good oral health protects you from tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and even more serious conditions like periodontitis. But there’s actually more to that simple routine of brushing twice a day to keep your pearly whites in perfect shape.

Follow these additional tips straight from your local dentist in Waterford to keep your mouth clean and cavity-free.

Learn the Proper Way of Brushing Teeth

Brushing your teeth after every meal is okay, but are you brushing your teeth correctly? The proper way of brushing teeth requires holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Next, you have to move your brush up and down in gentle, tooth-wide strokes. Apply the same pressure and movement to the chewing and inner surfaces of your teeth. Finally, use the tip of your toothbrush to lightly clean the inner side of your teeth.

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Tongue

As an important part of your mouth, your tongue also needs the same level of cleaning as your teeth. Your tongue also acts as a haven for bacteria from leftover food residue in your mouth. As such, if you don’t clean your tongue, it can lead to bad breath, oral thrush, or even a form of yeast infection!

Given that, remember to scrub the surface of your tongue after cleaning all your teeth to remove any plaque buildup.

Be Sure to Floss Regularly

Using your toothbrush, toothpaste, or mouthwash aren’t the only things you can use to keep your mouth clean. Flossing is also part of your arsenal to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Flossing once a day will make sure there are no bits of leftover food stuck between your teeth. Here’s a quick guide to flossing from your local dentist in Waterford:

• Take about 18 inches of floss and wrap both ends to one finger on each hand.
• Gently guide the floss between your teeth using an up-and-down motion.
• When you reach the gum line, curve the floss on one side of your tooth and slide it down to scrape bits of food. Do the same thing again on the other side of your tooth.
• Be careful not to cut your gums when you glide the floss over them.

Use the Right Toothpaste and Mouthwash

Choosing a toothpaste isn’t all about flavors and whitening power. You need to find a toothpaste that contains fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral that acts as a protective barrier for your teeth.

A mouthwash, on the other hand, lets you clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and teeth. It’s like a string of floss or a toothbrush in liquid form. It also helps neutralize the acid in your mouth, which, if left unchecked, can damage your teeth as well.

Drinking a Lot of Water Helps

Drinking water isn’t just good for keeping you hydrated; it also helps maintain your teeth and mouth too. It keeps your saliva levels high and even helps rinse away any bacteria left in your mouth.

In the US, fluoride-enriched tap water also helps strengthen your teeth in a similar way as the toothpaste does.

Conclusion

Keep all these tips in mind and in your daily oral hygiene rituals, and you’ll be good to go. The only thing left to do to make sure you maintain a healthy set of teeth and mouth is to pay your local dentist in Waterford a visit at least twice a year.

Keep your teeth and mouth healthy all year round with the help of the Dental House! We invite you to an environment that’s personable and welcoming while you get an appointment with your dentist. From orthodontics to affordable dentistry services, Dental House offers the best level of service to Ann Arbor and Waterford clients. Got a dental emergency? Contact us today!