You might think that your family's oral hygiene is pretty good, after all, you make sure that everyone brushes their teeth and flosses regularly, right? The thing is, that is often not enough to keep the teeth and gums in top shape.
With that in mind, here are some things you can add to your family’s existing oral hygiene routine to really make the dentist proud:
Wait before brushing
If you have just consumed food or drink, especially if it is something acidic like orange juice, you might be tempted to brush your teeth right away, but this is not a good idea. Ideally, you should wait at least 30 minutes before doing so because otherwise, you will simply be brushing the acid into your teeth, which will weaken your enamel!
Use a softer brush
Brushing twice daily is important, but if you are brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush you could be doing just as much harm as good. Hard bristles can be too abrasive, which means they can cause damage to your teeth and even cause your gums to recede over time. Softer is always better.
Straighten your teeth
Straightening your teeth, whether using traditional braces or invisalign, is a good way to keep your mouth healthy. It ensures you can chew food more effectively, minimizes deposits of food and other debris in the mouth, and helps to prevent jaw pain amongst other things, So, if your teeth are misaligned, consider talking to ye dentist about various straightening options.
Film your technique
It sounds silly, but many dentists will recommend that you film yourself brushing your teeth. Doing so can help you, and them, identify what you are doing well and where there is room for improvement. This is a particularly good idea if you have kids because they don’t always brush in the most optimal way.
Limit sugar to one sitting
We all know that eating sugar can cause harm to our teeth, but that does not mean you need to give it up completely. If you want to have treats sugar, then simply try consuming it all in one sitting. Having your soda, your cookie, and your other sweet treats all in one go will mean your teeth are only being hit with one load of sugar instead of lots of little loads throughout the day, and it will not be as difficult to deal with it.
Of course, if you can give up sugar as a family, then that would be even better for your teeth.
Eat more crunchy fruits and vegetables
Crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery are great for “washing” the teeth because you need to produce a lot of saliva to chew them effectively. That’s why they make a great ending to any meal, as does cheese which can neutralize acids.
If you add all of these things to your family’s oral hygiene routine, you can be sure that your teeth and gums will all be in tip-top condition with not a cavity in sight.
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