Tips for Optimal Oral Healthcare
Keeping a smile healthy is important, and it’s a job your dentist can’t undertake alone. Only with the regular implementation of healthy oral hygiene habits can you keep a beautiful, healthy smile.
Below, we’ve compiled some tips to help your oral environment reach its optimal health.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
We can’t stress enough the importance of regular check-ups. Although at home care is invaluable, only a dentist can see the spots you may have missed. With tools like x-rays and intra-oral cameras, a dentist can see things we can’t with normal at-home care methods alone.
- Brush Your Teeth
It’s excruciatingly important to brush your teeth at least twice per day. In the morning, after our mouths have been stagnant and dry overnight, bacteria will flourish. It’s imperative to brush those bacteria away. At night, before bed, we must brush to remove biofilm and food particles so as to not feed the bacteria as we sleep.
- Floss
Some people find flossing to be a cumbersome extra step, but flossing is as important as brushing. It’s never a bad idea to floss out the debris between your teeth. These crumbs will feed the bacteria in your mouth, and lead to plaque, decay, and cavities. Choose a water pick flossing device or pre-threaded floss picks if standard string floss is a hassle.
- Mouthwash is Your Friend
When on the go, mouthwash can be the quickest way to clear your mouth of unfriendly bacteria. Choose a small bottle of alcoholic mouthwash to keep your smile clean and fresh while out and about. Further, mouthwash can help clean in areas where bacteria accumulates, but is difficult to clean, like the back of the tongue and throat.
- Brush Your Tongue
The tongue can hold a lot of bacteria. This will cause bad breath and reinfection of the oral cavity after cleaning. Look for a tongue scraper, or simply use your toothbrush to keep your tongue a clean and healthy pink. Monitor the color of your tongue to check for early signs of illness and dehydration.
For more oral healthcare tips, visit the office of Amit Chaudhry, DDS. We look forward to working with you!