Good oral hygiene habits seem simple enough, but given the amount of oral issues out there, most people could improve their oral hygiene routines in some way.

Follow these tips to keep your smile shiny and healthy for years to come.

1. Brush Your Teeth At Least Twice Per Day

At bare minimum, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice per day (although you can brush thrice if you’d like) to keep them clean. If you’re forgetful, set a fixed time for each brushing session. For example, maybe you brush immediately after breakfast each morning and right before bed each night. Attaching your routine to other daily events

2. Brush Properly

Brushing improperly can not only lessen its effectiveness but could actually cause. Angle the brush upwards to snag particles trapped in the gums, but be gentle as hard brushing can damage your gums. Move the brush in a circular motion, covering each tooth completely. Invest in an electric, soft-bristled brush for maximum effect.

3. Floss Once A Day

Floss grabs the stuff stuck in between your teeth that your brush can’t reach. To reap the most benefits, curve the floss around each tooth and gently slide the floss up and down. Get under the gum line as well. Use a clean portion of the floss from tooth to tooth.

Use floss threaders if pushing floss between your teeth is difficult or painful.

4. Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash is known to wash out anything still stuck in the mouth. However, it also reduces the amount of acid in the mouth (which can cause tooth darkening and decay) and remineralizes the teeth, strengthening the enamel.

Don’t rely solely on mouthwash; use it after brushing and flossing for a fresh, clean mouth.

5. Don’t Forget Your Tongue

Plaque gets on your tongue, too, which can cause bad breath and some other dental issues. When you’re done brushing your teeth, gently brush your tongue. Mouthwash should get anything else your brush didn’t get.

6. Reduce Sugary/Acidic Food Consumption

The acid in the mouth is what erodes your enamel. Certain oral bacteria consume sugar and turn it into acid. However, coffee, tea, and acidic fruits all have acid in them which can contribute further to the erosion of enamel. Cut down on sugar and acidic food/drink for brighter, healthier teeth.

If you need your caffeine every morning, skip the frozen blended drink and take your caffeinated beverage black/plain to cut out all the sugary ingredients. Brush your teeth immediately after drinking coffee/tea to remove the acid from those drinks, and drink some water as well. Don’t rely solely on straws, as they aren’t as effective at preventing staining and acid buildup as you think.

7. Visit Your Dentist Twice A Year

Even the most thorough of oral health routines fail to catch 100% of bad particles in the mouth. Regular visits to dentists like Absolute Smile are vital to ensuring a completely clean and healthy mouth.

They can clean those hard-to-reach areas and clean out any buildup you might’ve missed, lowering the chance of oral health issues. Dentists also can catch early warning signs of oral diseases like gingivitis or oral cancer, making treatment of these diseases less painful and less expensive.

Start implementing these tips daily for good oral hygiene. Schedule an appointment with Absolute Smile to cover anything that your new oral hygiene routine doesn’t cover, as well as for further individualized advice from our dental experts.