We’ve all heard the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While eating fruits and veggies is very important to your overall health, there are a number of other important tips you can try to boost your oral cleanliness and prevent dental hygiene issues. Here are a few simple ones to start implementing this year.
Avoid “Grazing” or Excessive Snacking
One easy task that can help your mouth is to let your body’s natural defenses work to repair enamel. Your saliva has enzymes that help to restore a proper pH balance to your mouth after eating acidic foods that can harm your enamel, but it takes time to work properly. Constantly going back for a candy bar or another snack can mean that your mouth never has time to invoke its natural defenses. Instead, ensure that you have at least an hour or so of time during which you are not snacking or drinking anything other than water.
Embrace the Tap
Most cities fluoridate their water systems to boost the overall oral health of the population. Try to drink tap water when you can in order to get the benefits of a fluoride wash. Fluoride has been scientifically shown to reduce tooth decay, which can lead to other serious problems like an increased risk for heart disease and gum disease. As a side note, the environment will thank you for not consuming plastic bottles of water, so this tip has numerous benefits.
Floss Once per Day, Minimum
Flossing only adds a few minutes to your daily oral hygiene regimen, but it can improve the overall health of your mouth significantly. Flossing can reach places that typical toothbrushes cannot, prying stuck food from between your teeth where it otherwise may have sat for days, eating away at your teeth. Brushing at least twice per day and flossing at least once per day is the usual recommendation from most dentists.
By implementing these simple tips into your daily routine, you may start to see clear evidence of improved oral health. For more information on dental hygiene, or to schedule your next cleaning, contact our office here.