While you may be able to go a couple of days without showering, you cannot skip over dental hygiene. Taking care of your teeth and gums is a lifelong daily practice to prevent a variety of complications, including tooth decay, gingivitis and gum disease, abscesses, and bone loss. Here are a few oral hygiene habits dentists want you to embrace to enjoy a healthy, radiant smile for life.

What Dental Hygiene Habits Should You Know?

1. Use a Remineralizing Toothpaste

Stick with fluoride toothpastes to maintain healthy enamel—or the outer tooth layer that protects sensitive dentin and nerves. Enamel is also responsible for tooth color. Fluoride is a mineral that can help restore mild erosion to prevent tooth sensitivities and discolorations.

2. Brush for Two Minutes Twice a Day

Brush your teeth using a soft-bristled brush for two minutes twice a day. Use a timer to ensure you brush in two-minute intervals, and don’t forget to brush your tongue. Rinse your toothbrush after every tongue scrape, so you aren’t reintroducing bacteria to your mouth. Brush gently to avoid wearing down your gums or promoting enamel erosion.

3. Floss Once a Day

Make flossing as important as brushing. Use the proper technique—or gently rubbing the filament between your teeth before making a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Floss reaches food particles and bacteria that your toothbrush cannot, making it an integral part of dental hygiene. If you cannot use regular floss for any reason, research other options, such as dental picks and water flossers.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Keep water within reach as much as possible to rinse your teeth and gums of bacteria, food particles, and plaque. Drink at least a gallon of liquid each day as part of your dental hygiene and overall health regimen, especially when you are drinking alcohol, soda, or other acidic and sugary beverages. Water prevents acid and sugar from coating your teeth and contributing to tooth decay and plaque.

5. See Your Dentist Biannually

Schedule exams and deep teeth cleanings with your dentist every six months to check for any issues and remove tartar, hardened plaque that forms under the gumline. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar. Your dentist will also let you know if you have early signs of tooth decay or gingivitis and make recommendations such as using an anti-tartar mouthwash. 

Take charge of your dental hygiene with the right combination of home and professional care. Schedule your next appointment with William U. Britton, DDS, MAGD, the general dentistry practice serving Jackson and Chillicothe, OH. Dr. Britton has over 35 years of experience and offers a wide range of services, including endodontics and oral surgery. Call (740) 772-2225 or visit them online to learn more about their services.