Did you know - October is Dental Hygiene Awareness Month! It’s a great opportunity to give your teeth and gums some extra love and make sure your dental hygiene regimen is in tip-top shape. As you probably know, dental hygienists play a huge role in examining, deep-cleaning, and prevention during your bi-annual dental visits, but in between, it’s your job to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Read on to find out how you can celebrate Dental Hygiene Awareness Month and ensure you are executing a great oral hygiene routine.
A good oral hygiene routine has four daily habits to keep your teeth and gums healthy: brushing, flossing, rinsing, and chewing. These components form a foundation on which you can build a lifetime of healthy teeth. Daily preventive treatment can reduce your risk of developing issues like cavities and gum disease, and will help to keep your smile looking shiny and bright.
Luckily, it’s quite simple to introduce great oral hygiene practices into your daily routine. Oral Hygiene Awareness Month has provided the four daily habits you should keep:
Brushing
Brushing twice a day, for at least 2 minutes, with the proper brush and the proper technique is the first step in your oral health routine. You should always use a soft bristle toothbrush and brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Make sure you are brushing all surfaces of your teeth including the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces. And don’t forget to brush your tongue - it holds bacteria which can contribute to bad breath.
Flossing
You should floss between your teeth at least once a day to remove debris and plaque that is not removed by brushing. If you are leaving food and bacteria between your teeth, it can lead to cavities, then eventually inflammation, bleeding gums, and bone loss. Although water flossers are becoming more common, we recommend sticking with traditional floss as it is still the most effective way to remove plaque and food particles from in between your teeth.
Rinsing
After brushing and flossing, rinsing with a mouthwash can help further eliminate bacteria that brushing and flossing cannot. Rinsing daily, especially with a mouthwash containing fluoride, may help reduce the chance of dental decay and infection. There are many flavors and varieties of mouthwash, some also have other active ingredients that can help whiten teeth or treat dry mouth. Avoid alcohol-based rinses that can dry out your mouth and irritate your gums. Other than that, the most important thing is to find a mouthwash that you will use regularly!
Chewing
The American Dental Hygienists Association included “chewing” as the 4th daily habit. Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. It increases the flow of saliva, which helps wash away food and other debris and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. At Smile New Braunfels, we extend “chewing” to include good eating habits. Chewing hard, crunchy foods like carrots, celery, and apples can help clean the plaque from teeth and naturally freshen your breath.
Doing these four habits everyday will help keep your smile healthy and bright! Combine that with two visits to the dentist each year, and you’ll have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime!
