Tips on How to Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home: Find out the Facts

Everyone knows that a high standard of oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums, but not everyone can practice good oral hygiene as frequently as they would like. The daily grind of busy schedules and work pressures can make it challenging to find time and motivation to brush your teeth. This means that most people are left with only two options: find somewhere to go after work to practice better oral hygiene or learn to practice good oral hygiene at home. Luckily, the latter option is a lot easier than you may think. With just a little discipline and clever habits, anyone can practice good oral hygiene at home every day and keep their pearly whites clean no matter what life throws at them. Here are some helpful tips on how you can do just that:

Change your toothbrush once a month

While the frequency with which you change your toothbrush will vary depending on your level of oral health, one sure thing is that you should always change your toothbrush once a month. Why? First, when you think about the number of bacteria growing inside your mouth daily, it’s easy to understand why your toothbrush is such a breeding ground for disease. Regular use of your toothbrush means it will quickly become coated in germs and bacteria from your mouth. While you may be able to clean it off by rinsing your toothbrush with water, bacteria will persist inside the bristles and will still be able to do damage as you continue to use the brush. Regular cleaning and replacing of your toothbrush are necessary to avoid these issues, but they are also essential to maintaining a healthy level of oral hygiene. Without a clean toothbrush, you cannot remove the plaque and germs left on your teeth after brushing.

Floss once a day

While it may not be as fun as brushing your teeth, flossing is just as important as brushing when it comes to maintaining a healthy level of oral hygiene. The fact is that many people don’t brush their teeth as often as they should, and it can be even harder to stick to a dental hygiene schedule when you’re practicing good oral hygiene at home. Dental disease is a severe problem that can cause serious harm to your teeth and gums and can even lead to some severe health issues. While flossing may not sound fun, it is a significant part of maintaining a healthy level of oral hygiene that you can’t ignore.

Use an oral irrigator once a day

While toothbrushes and floss are great for removing bacteria from your teeth, many people struggle to reach the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth with these tools. This is especially true for people who wear orthodontic braces, have misaligned teeth, or struggle with an untreated condition like gum disease or toothache. Where toothbrushes and floss fall short, an oral irrigator can pick up the slack and help you to practice good oral hygiene at home. An oral irrigator is a water-based toothbrush that you can use to blast plaque and bacteria from your teeth, gums, and tongue. Although they may sound like dentists only use them, oral irrigators are surprisingly affordable and can be purchased by anyone. They can be an excellent tool for anyone struggling to reach their back teeth or tongue and could be all the difference between plaque-free and plaque-covered teeth when practicing good oral hygiene at home.

Brush your tongue

While this may sound gross, it is a significant part of practicing good oral hygiene. Your tongue is coated in bacteria (like the rest of your mouth) and covered in tiny grooves acting as traps. The bacteria on your tongue is not easily washed away with a toothbrush or floss. Regular brushing of your tongue can help remove the bacteria and plaque that accumulates on your tongue and can be a huge help when cleaning the inside of your mouth. Yes, it’s a bit strange and takes a little getting used to, but brushing your tongue can be extremely helpful in maintaining a healthy level of oral hygiene.

Have a cup of coffee or tea before brushing

Yes, this works. When bacteria and plaque build up on your teeth, they begin to harden and form some of the most vital substances known to man. This substance, known as tartar, is complicated to remove from teeth and can cause severe damage if left untreated for too long. Bacteria and plaque can be hard to remove, but luckily there is a simple and easy way to make it a lot easier. Simply by having a hot drink like coffee or a cold drink like tea before you brush your teeth, you can make the plaque on your teeth easier to remove. This works because when you have a hot or cold drink, it causes your saliva to increase. This increases the amount of saliva in your mouth and can make it easier to break down the plaque on your teeth with your toothbrush.

Keep your mouth moist

When you have a dry mouth, it makes it much more challenging to clean your teeth effectively. Keeping your mouth wet will keep it from drying out and allow you to practice good oral hygiene at home without worrying about how well you’re doing. You can do this by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, eating foods like yogurt or chewing sugarless gum, or using a mouthwash product to keep your mouth moist.

Conclusion

Practicing good oral hygiene is essential, but it can be challenging if you don’t know how to do it correctly. When your gums are receding, they can cause great danger to your teeth by exposing them to bacteria which can lead to decay. The earlier gum recession is detected and treated, the more straightforward treatment becomes and the better the results.