As the saying goes, “a smile is the most beautiful thing anyone can wear”. Everybody loves to have a bright, white, and healthy set of teeth that they can always show. However, not everyone is genetically blessed with a perfect set of teeth. Moreover, bad oral hygiene habits and sometimes mere lack of knowledge can cause your teeth to become unhealthy and aesthetically unappealing. If you are an adult looking to establish better dental hygiene habits to achieve a healthy set of teeth and a million-dollar smile, read along.
Know how to properly brush
Most of us are often overconfident about our brushing skills simply because we have been brushing for so long. However, the bad side to having a long-term habit is that when you do something for so long, it can be more difficult for you to correct it. First of all, if you only think about your teeth when you are brushing, then you are surely doing something wrong. Brushing should be about cleaning your entire mouth. This includes your gums, tongue, and even the roof of your mouth.
Ideally, you should be holding the brush at a 45-degree angle when you brush near the gum line to make the most of your efforts. Try to remain in the moment and pay attention to what you do when you brush, rather than letting your mind wander. If possible, brush after every meal. At the very least, brush in the morning and before you go to bed at night.
Know how to properly floss
No, flossing is not only something your dentist should do every 6 months. It should go hand in hand with daily brushing since flossing is simply finishing up your cleaning routine by getting into places your toothbrush cannot. Brushing only cleans the surfaces of your mouth, while flossing tackles the sneaky food particles and plaque that gets in between your teeth eventually causing cavities and tooth decay.
Know what to eat
Unsurprisingly, what you eat, or put in your mouth daily has a large impact on the health of your oral cavity. As a child, you may have simply always eaten what tasted good, but as an adult, you should be more conscious about the nutritional value of what you eat and how it affects your body. Apart from nutrition, there is a certain food that helps clean your mouth as you eat. Dairy products like cheese help neutralize the harmful acids made in your mouth that lead to cavities. Chewing on water-rich fruits like apples and watermelons is like an after-meal cleanse without having to use mouth wash. This comes back to the popular saying, an apple a day keeps your doctor away!
Know what to drink
Similar to food, some drinks are highly beneficial for your oral health, and then some drinks actively help to cause oral issues. Water is the best thing you can drink all day every day for a healthier mouth. It will wash down the food particles in your mouth, limiting the chance for bacteria and plaque to grow. Drinking sugary sodas and bacteria can be quite damaging to your mouth, especially if you do not properly clean your mouth from the residue right after.
Know your fluoride
While there are some controversial opinions on the impact of fluoride on one’s teeth, using fluoride-rich toothpaste largely helps close small cavities and reduces the risk of tooth decay. It is a good idea to keep some of the residues from the toothpaste in your mouth without fully washing it off when you go to bed at night.
Know when to see your dentist
Last but not least, the most important tip and habit for great dental hygiene are making regular visits to your dentist in Kissimmee. If you have not had any oral health issues, dental restorations, or other procedures, you can visit the dentist every six months. If you have had procedures done, it is better to visit the dentist more often to ensure that all the procedures are holding up and to recognize any other issues early on to avoid any larger problems from arising.