Everyone knows to brush their teeth daily, but you may not be aware of what exactly a hygiene routine looks like. Your dentist can recommend a specific routine for your needs, but in general, you should plan to do the following:
Brush Your Teeth
Of course, this is the natural way to begin your routine. You should brush your teeth twice a day for a minimum of two minutes. If you want to be sure the brushing is complete, consider using an electric toothbrush.
Most people brush their teeth immediately after they eat, but it’s actually best to wait an hour after eating to brush your teeth. This is because acid in your food and drink may loosen your tooth enamel. When you brush your teeth immediately, it can cause more damage to your teeth.
Floss
Flossing your teeth is also important, but you should be sure you follow the right routine. Ideally, you’ll floss at the end of the day, before brushing. This means the floss will loosen the food particles in between your teeth and you should remove it with brushing.
Be sure to use plenty of floss so you can use a clean bit for each tooth. Be sure to floss between each set of teeth, all the way back to the molars.
Rinse
Once you have flossed and brushed for the evening, you should rinse your mouth. It’s best to use some mouthwash to do this. Rinse by swishing the liquid throughout your mouth for 30 seconds to get the best results, then you can spit the mouthwash out.
Agitating the mouthwash will help loosen up any debris in your mouth that has not been removed by the flossing and brushing.
Clean Your Tongue
It’s a good idea to clean your tongue in addition to brushing your teeth. Bacteria can build up on your tongue, as well. This may cause bad breath and can be quite unpleasant. All you need to do is brush your tongue once a day when you brush. It’s a good idea to do this at the end of the day so you rinse away lingering bacteria when you use mouthwash.
Visit a Dentist
Even with the best possible dental routine, you can still end up with plaque on your teeth and along the gumline. Regular visits to the dentist will help prevent this from becoming a problem.
You should schedule regular teeth cleaning sessions to eliminate any build-up on your teeth and to keep them as clean as possible. This also ensures there are no extra crevices or ridges for bacteria to settle in.
Ready to schedule a cleaning? Make your appointment today with Manor Road Dentists.