Taking Your Oral Health Care Routine To The Next Level

If you're honest with yourself, there are probably many days when you barely get through a morning oral care routine with the bare minimum of brushing your teeth. But there are many reasons you should make it a priority to establish a solid morning and evening routine. For one, experts have found a link between mouth health and overall health. But a 2012 survey found that many people are not aware of basic information regarding dental care. Read on for tips to improve your oral health care and take your routine to the next level.

Brushing

The American Dental Association recommends using a soft-bristled brush to clean your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, morning and evening. Your toothbrush should be replaced three to four times a year, whenever you notice the bristles are becoming frayed.

There is a proper way to brush your teeth:

  1. Your toothbrush should be placed at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
  2. Use short strokes to gently brush back and forth over your teeth, beginning with the outside, then moving to the inside, and finally brushing the bottoms of the teeth (the parts that meet while chewing).
  3. Lastly, brush your tongue gently in both directions to remove any bacteria or other odor-causing substances.

Flossing

If your dental care routine up to this point has consisted mainly of brushing, adding just a minute of flossing after each brushing can make a big difference. Flossing can remove plaque and food from the spaces between the teeth too small for toothbrush bristles to reach. WebMD recommends the following to get the most out of your flossing:

  • Use 18 inches of floss, wrapped around one finger of each hand.
  • Begin on the upper right or left and cross all the way around to the opposite side. Then, do the same on the bottom row of teeth.

Some dentists recommend using waxed floss, which tends to hold together better and glide more easily between teeth.

Mouthwash

Once you've added flossing to your routine, it's another short step to mouthwash. Mouthwash can help reduce cavities, reduce the risk of oral disease, and significantly improve the smell of your breath. 

BreathMD suggests swishing your mouthwash around for 30 to 60 seconds, gargling for the same amount of time, then spitting the solution out. Forgoing rinsing your mouth out with water after allows the mouthwash to work a bit longer. You should try to avoid eating or drinking anything for the next 10 minutes.

Talk to a dental office like Montillo Dental Associates Braintree to learn about other ways to improve your oral health care routine.

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