Oral hygiene is extremely important, especially as you age. When we’re young, our parents tend to be more vigilant about brushing and flossing. But with time passing by and as we get older, some of those habits start slipping away, and we become too busy or forgetful. As such, everyone needs to have a good oral hygiene routine. However, not everyone is gifted with that beautiful smile from day one, so some people need to invest time and effort to improve the quality of their teeth. You need to make sure that you visit a dentist offering teeth cleaning Brooklyn. Here are some tips on how you can maintain good oral hygiene.
1. Brush and Floss Twice a Day
You must brush your teeth after every meal. It takes only a few minutes, but it will do wonders for your oral hygiene if you always brush before going to bed and in the morning when you get up from sleep. You need to use antimicrobial toothpaste to fight against bad bacteria in your mouth. Brushing is the best way to remove plaque, tartar, and leftover food particles that can cause tooth decay if they remain in your mouth for too long.
When you floss regularly, you clean the spaces between teeth where food particles can easily settle, if not removed. Dental floss is inexpensive and easy to use, so there’s no excuse for not using it every night. Flossing is very important as it helps clean food particles between teeth where brushing can’t always reach.
2. Limit Sugar Intake
Sugar isn’t only bad for your overall health, but harms your teeth and mouth in general. We all know that sugar provides us with energy to help us through our day, but it can cause various problems in our bodies when it’s in excess. First of all, sugar causes tooth decay by forming plaque on your teeth and weakening the tooth enamel. It also feeds bad bacteria in your mouth, which makes them multiply even faster, leading to bad breath and other oral health issues.
3. Drink Fluoridated Water
We all know that fluoride is very beneficial for our teeth, but how can it help? Fluoride in our saliva helps prevent tooth decay and makes your enamel stronger against acid, which causes cavities. Public water supplies usually have a certain amount of fluoride in them, but you should consider buying a fluoride supplement if they don’t. It’s important to know whether your water contains fluoride, so you can always consider this.
4. Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
Smoking and drinking alcohol cause a lot of damage to your mouth and throat. Cigarettes contain chemicals that irritate your gums and make them more vulnerable to infections. On the other hand, alcohol leaves your mouth extremely dry. This is not only harmful to your teeth but also the rest of your body, as saliva plays a huge role in maintaining proper hydration levels in your body.
In summary, good oral health requires commitment, time, and effort. If you have bad teeth or suffer from bad breath, there are so many ways to improve the quality of your mouth. But it’s always best to consult a dentist before making any changes, to avoid problems with your overall health.
