5 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene…Keeping a perfect set of pearly whites require more than just brushing every day. Your teeth are made of enamel, a substance more tougher than the bone. Your teeth have to be very tough for a good reason, since they are often exposed to foreign substances (food) and countless bacteria. Therefore, your teeth constantly face threats to their integrity. This makes dental hygiene so important. You only have one set of teeth for a lifetime since your milk teeth are all gone now. If you want to have healthy teeth and gums to last you a lifetime, keep doing these five healthy habits:

Brushing Your Teeth Regularly and Twice a Day

We can’t emphasize this enough. Brushing is the only way to remove food residues before it becomes plaque. However, many of us do not brush properly. It is simple – brush for two minutes, twice a day and make sure to cover all surfaces of the teeth. If you are tired from using manual toothbrushes, try electric toothbrush. Change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, and select soft toothbrushes so as not not to damage tooth enamel or gums. (dental hygiene)

Floss Regularly for good dental hygiene

If you brush your teeth, floss it as well. Flossing removes residues between the teeth that your brush cannot reach. Flossing also cleans the gums, and can address plaque buildup that brushing cannot remove. Traditional string flosses or floss picks will work fine.

Clean Your Tongue Too

Make it a point to clean your tongue with a toothbrush or a tongue cleaner/scraper. Remember to brush or scrape all the surfaces of the tongue. The surface of the tongue has numerous tiny projections that collect food particles, and can cause tooth decay and bad breath. Tongue cleaning will eliminate this problem and should be a part of regular dental hygiene. This is a reason why tongue cleaning is highly recommended, and it is very easy to do. Tongue cleaning can really make your mouth look and smell nice.

Use an Oral Irrigator

Oral irrigator is a device that directs a stream of pulsating water, and you direct it to your teeth and gum area to remove plaque and food debris. Use of oral irrigating devices is proven to remove food debris and bacteria films between spaces of the teeth and the gumline. If you are prone to gum bleeding, or have history of gum problems, it is highly recommended you use an oral irrigating device.

Diet Changes for Better Oral Health

The food you eat or drink influence the condition of your teeth and gums. You can improve your dental hygiene by making diet changes. Foods that harm your teeth and gums include refined starches and sugars. Starches and sugars tend to stick on the teeth and spaces between teeth and gums, allowing bacteria to grow and produce acids that harm teeth enamel or infect the gums. Soft drinks and carbonated drinks contain acids etch the enamel and harm the teeth. Avoid these foods if you want to improve your dental health. Improve the health of your teeth and gums with high-fiber foods, like whole fruits and leafy vegetables. Fibers in these foods cleans your teeth as you chew, like a natural toothbrush. To keep teeth and gums healthy, eat at least three servings of whole fruits and vegetables every day.