Are you keeping your mouth healthy and clean? Most people neglect at least a few areas of the mouth that need to be kept clean. That might be the spaces between the teeth, the gum line or the tongue. This leads to the development of problems that can be painful, embarrassing or uncomfortable.
Luckily, with these simple tips, you’ll be able to keep your mouth healthy and avoid any of the common issues.
Brush Regularly And Thoroughly
You should be brushing your teeth twice a day and spent two minutes each time at least. Some people go overboard and brush after every meal. This isn’t necessary unless you have a brace in which case, it might be. That’s only because food tends to get trapped and stuck in the brackets. For the rest of us, twice a day is enough with thirty seconds spent in each corner of the mouth. When you’re brushing, let the toothbrush move naturally. Make sure you are brushing close to the gumline as this is where plaque builds. Remember, you should keep your brush at a forty-five degrees angle and not spit until the end. Keeping the liquid washing around your mouth for longer will lead to a better clean.
Don’t Forget To Floss
You should floss after every meal and possibly each time that you eat. Wrap the floss around two of your fingers and move it between your teeth in a backward, forwards, motion. Be sure to clean until you don’t feel any resistance, but don’t pull too hard. This could damage your gum line. The first time you floss might result in bleeding, and while frightening, this is perfectly reasonable. It means it’s doing the job.
Use Mouthwash
You should be using mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Look for a mouthwash that contains fluoride as this is the best chemical for cleaning your teeth. You need to hold the mouthwash in for no longer than a minute and make sure that you don’t swallow. In large quantities, fluoride can be dangerous and have long lasting effects. You can use mouthwash daily as long as you are spitting it out each time.
Clean Your Tongue
Make sure that you’re cleaning as much of the tongue as you can. You can use floss, the toothbrush or the back of the brush to do this. Some toothbrushes do have a special rubber surface on the back, specifically for cleaning the tongue. Don’t neglect to clean your tongue as a dirty tongue can result in the development of bad breath.
Keep A Healthy Diet
Finally, you should think about your diet. What you eat can affect your oral health, particularly, if you consistently eat meals high in sugar. Even regularly cleaning your teeth won’t prevent the development of damage such as tooth decay. Try to avoid drinking large amounts of fizzy drinks each day. If you do have a sweet tooth, limit yourself to one and make sure you use a straw. This will help most of the sugar go past the teeth and straight down the throat.
