6 Tips To Up Your Dental Home Care Game
Following these six straightforward suggestions for dental home care can improve your oral health
Going to the dentist does not rank among many people’s favorite things to do. However, regular appointments with your hygienist are critical to your oral health. If going to the dentist is not your favorite, here are a few tips for your dental home care.
1. Brush at least twice a day
No shocker there, right? But I don’t mean smother the toothbrush with paste and do a quick scrub to freshen your breath—I’m talking a good two-minute brush, preferably with an electric toothbrush. Technology with power brushes has come a long way. There are super fancy ones with Bluetooth technology that connects to your phone and tells you where you missed.
2. Clean in between your teeth
Note that I didn’t say floss. Not that I’m saying don’t floss—but there are other ways to disrupt the gunk between your teeth if flossing isn’t your jam. I use a combination of floss some days, interdental picks work well.
3. Don’t neglect your tongue
Your poor little tongue takes a beating. We burn it, we bite it, and it is often ignored when it comes to home care. All those little papillae on your tongue hold onto bacteria that can affect your mouth’s health.
4. Watch your diet
We’ve all heard about sugar bugs and how they cause cavities. And while that’s true, it’s way more complex than that. Any time you eat and drink (anything but plain water), the pH in your mouth drops. Think of the yummy coffee drink you savor for a few hours each morning. With every sip, the pH goes down. Depending on what you’re consuming and your oral health, that pH could remain low for a long time—putting you at risk for cavities and gum disease.