5 Simple Tips for Daily Oral Hygiene

Your oral hygiene says almost as much about you as the clothes you wear and the expertise on your resume. Sadly, good oral hygiene is something that so many people neglect during their daily routine leading to tooth discoloration and decay, bad breath, and gum disease. By following these 5 simple tips for daily oral hygiene you will be sure to make a great first impression every time while maintaining an overall positive health routine.

1) Brush your Teeth daily, at least twice:

While the rule of thumb is to brush your teeth three times a day, that may often be difficult for many in the work force to keep up with. While brushing your teeth three times daily is certainly ideal, you will want to make sure that you brush your teeth first thing in the morning and just before bed. Most commercial toothpastes include a fluoride additive which must remain on your teeth for approximately 30 minutes to be fully effective. Brushing your teeth prior to bedtime is essential in removing plaque buildup, bacteria, and food particles from your mouth that may form cavities during the night.

2) Floss your Teeth as often as you brush:

Flossing seems to be the bane of existence for many people during their oral hygiene routine. Unfortunately, this one step is more important than even daily brushing according to most dentists. Flossing physically removes plaque and germs in areas that brushing alone cannot reach. The two major complaints regarding flossing both revolve around the issue of comfort. Many people experience discomfort when flossing due to bleeding at the gum lines. As you build up a tolerance and develop healthier gums this bleeding will soon diminish. The physical discomfort of holding floss can be lessened by purchasing individual flossing handles which are not much more costly than floss itself.

3) Choose a good oral rinse:

Much like flossing, the oral rinse has earned a nasty reputation for itself due to the sting of alcohol. Several products on the market have been released which do not clean with alcohol, but still provide all of the germ killing benefits of their alcohol fuelled brethren. Besides providing a minty-fresh wash to your mouth, an oral rinse will get into the cracks and crevices of your teeth that, like flossing, brushing alone cannot reach.

4) Clean your tongue and gums:

Your tongue is quite literally connected to the inner workings of your body. Throughout the day it can build up just as much plaque and bacterial waste as the rest of your mouth. Tongue scrapers are an option to pull off excess tongue waste, but a simple pass over with your toothbrush will often suffice.

5) Avoid too many sugary foods:

Just like doing 1,000 sit-ups a day will not help you build a six pack if you don't alter your diet, maintaining good oral health involves watching your intake of foods. Foods high in sugar may sit on your teeth and start damaging their enamel just a few minutes after being consumed. If possible, try to brush as soon as you can after eating sugary foods.

Maintaining good dental hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. So in between regular visits to the dentist, follow these 5 simple steps, they will help decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.