What Should My Oral Hygiene Regimen be?
Ensuring you are able to reach your oral health needs begins with a good oral hygiene regimen. We’ve laid out information for you below to help guide you in the right direction to find the perfect regimen for you.
Setting Up Your Hygiene Goals:
While there are recommended tips that everyone should apply to their oral hygiene regimen, there may be specific actions you can take to cater to your own needs/wants.
Conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease, and cancer all have the possibility of impacting your oral health. These conditions may require extra care in your routine and we recommend consulting with your dental provider if you feel you meet special requirements.
The Basics:
There are a few basic routine tasks you can do daily to have a good regimen.
- Brush Twice Daily – Brushing when you first wake up and before you go to bed are the optimal times of day for you to clean your teeth. We recommend brushing for about 2 minutes. Try to give some time between when you eat and when you brush for a more effective cleaning.
- Floss At Least Once A Day – Get out the extra food particles and bacteria left over from brushing by flossing every day as well. The culprit for cavities is usually these types of hidden molecules that people miss. If you absolutely hate flossing with normal floss, try to opt for a pick or water floss to reach those pesky unseen particles. Avoid toothpicks.
- Use The Right Tools – The right tools for brushing success are:
- A soft bristled toothbrush – medium and hard bristled brushes can damage your gums and enamel if used too vigorously or improperly.
- Consider an electric toothbrush, which has a higher probability of plaque reduction than a manual brush.
- Fluoride Toothpaste – Fluoride is a natural regenerative and protective element in a large amount of toothpaste. Its prevention of tooth decay is an integral part of the brushing process.
- The Right Floss – There are many different types of floss/flossing-like products out there that all relatively have the same benefits. It is important that you find the one that you find the most comfortable and efficient. Be sure to be gentle with your gums to help prevent bleeding. Take it one crevice at a time.
- Staying Sanitary – As you use your toothbrush over time it will become more susceptible to bacteria and the bristles will be altered to an unusable state. We recommend replacing the toothbrush or toothbrush head at the most every 3 months. You can gauge yourself when it seems like your brush may be corroded. Always rinse after use and be sure to store the brush in an area where it can dry without attracting molds.
Other Things To Consider
- Fluoride – Children and adults can both benefit exponentially from a fluoride mouthwash. Its defensive and regenerative benefits give an edge on top of brushing and flossing for extra position.
- Brushing Your Tongue – Brushing your tongue as well as your teeth is important to keep away bad breath and get rid of food particles that may be hanging around in your mouth. You can use your toothbrush or purchase a tongue scraper.
- Eating A Balanced Diet – Eating less foods containing starches will help prevent the level of acidicness in your mouth. Watch out for potato chips, soft drinks, sweets, and even dried fruits. We all cave in to these foods sometime, so when you do consume them just brush sometime after to prevent the tooth decay process.
Conclusion: Consistency Is Key
The key to proper upkeep of your oral health is staying consistent in a well-thought-out regimen. Everyone falters here and there but as long as brushing and flossing become a daily routine then you can expect to have stellar oral health. Visiting the dentist regularly twice every year consistently will also help you stay in touch with how your oral health progresses. A good dentist loves sharing information with patients, so don’t hesitate to ask them for advice or to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t have a dentist, we’d be happy to answer any of your questions.