The Best Oral Hygiene Routine

November 18 2022 by Mills Haven Dental

Your oral health is extremely important. Taking good care of your teeth and gums benefits your overall health. In fact, poor oral health has been linked to diseases and low self-esteem (your mental health matters, too).

Keep reading to discover the five areas you need to focus on to have the best oral hygiene routine possible.

#1 Brush and Floss

The best thing you can do for your oral health is to establish a brush and floss routine. However, you need to be consistent with your routine for it to have a positive impact. Here are some basic rules:

Brush your teeth twice each day. Spend at least 2 minutes during each session so you can brush every surface of your tooth. Don’t forget easily missed spots (like the molars or inside of your incisors).
Floss at least once a day, but we encourage you to try to floss every time you brush (twice each day). Never force the floss between your teeth. Instead, gently work the floss back and forth until it reaches every nook and cranny. Flossing is vital for reducing plaque and tartar build-up.

You need to make sure you’re using great products that dentists trust. Check out the Canadian Dental Association’s list of products with their approval seal.

PRO TIP: While brushing your teeth, don’t forget to clean your tongue! Your tongue can also build up plaque, so you need to make sure you make a regular habit of cleaning it thoroughly. Using your toothbrush and toothpaste is enough, but you can go the extra mile by investing in a tongue-scraping tool.

#2 Regular Dental Visits

An equally important thing you can do is visit your dentist regularly. Preventative dentistry is key to excellent oral health.

You should go for a cleaning/hygiene appointment at your dental office every six months (some people can get away with a visit every 12 months). This will be your opportunity to have plaque and tartar professionally removed and give you that fresh start to stick to good habits.

Once a year, you should see your dentist for an oral health exam and x-rays. By keeping to this routine, your dentist can detect any issues or changes with your oral health early on.

#3 Quit Bad Habits

If you smoke, it’s time to quit. Smoking is terrible for your oral and overall health. But it’s not the only bad habit that affects oral health. For example, chewing on ice, fingernails, pencils, or anything else that’s excessively hard can cause damage to your teeth.

#4 Monitor Your Diet

Your diet impacts your oral health, and sometimes not in a good way! So here are some foods to try to cut back on:

Acidic foods (e.g., oranges and tomatoes).
Sticky foods (e.g., gum and dried fruit).
Soft drinks (i.e., reduce the pop in your house).
Coffee (i.e., limit to 1-2 cups per day).
Alcohol (especially cocktails and highballs).

You should also try to drink more water and eat fresh veggies & fruit; this simple change is significant for every aspect of your health.

#5 Research Your Medications and Conditions