When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, practicing good oral hygiene is key. Daily oral care and healthy choices go a long way in protecting your teeth and preventing serious dental problems from cropping up later on. For more than 25 years, South Baldwin Dental Associates, P.C. in Foley, AL, has been helping their patients achieve beautiful smiles, and they offer a few everyday tips you can follow to keep your teeth healthy and dazzling.

3 Routine Oral Hygiene Tips

1. Use the Right Technique When Brushing & Flossing 

You probably already know that you should brush your teeth at least two times a day and floss daily. But the technique you use is equally important.

• Brushing: Hold your brush near the gum line at an angle of 45 degrees. Use short, back-and-forth and up-and-down strokes to clean all sides of your teeth. Don’t brush too hard, and make sure the bristles of your toothbrush aren’t too stiff, or you could cause small tears in the soft tissue of your mouth. You should also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove additional bacteria. Your brushing session should last at least 2 minutes.
• Flossing: Make sure your piece of floss is about 18 inches in length. Wrap the floss around each tooth and move it in a back-and-forth motion, changing to a clean section of floss every few teeth.

2. Use Mouthwash

Many people think brushing and flossing are enough, and they skip the mouthwash. However, rinsing your mouth after brushing helps tackle the bacteria in the small spaces that toothbrushes can’t reach. The fact that it makes your breath smell great is a bonus.

3. Avoid Tooth-Harming Substances

It’s not enough to properly clean your teeth every day: your diet and daily habits play a role in your oral hygiene as well. Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks, such as desserts, soda, and juices, which contribute to tooth decay. In addition, excessive coffee and tea consumption can stain your teeth. Worst of all is tobacco, which wreaks havoc on your mouth. It causes tooth discoloration, increases your risk of oral cancer, and creates an environment where bacteria flourish. Although cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as teeth whitening and veneers, can help fix the damage, it’s better to prevent these problems in the first place.

To bolster the effectiveness of your daily oral care routine, make an appointment for a checkup and cleaning at South Baldwin Associates PC. This dental practice provides comprehensive cosmetic and general dentistry services using state-of-the-art treatments in a friendly and comfortable environment. To schedule an exam today, call (251) 943-1521 or visit their website to learn more about their oral hygiene tips and download patient forms.