Taking care of your teeth and gums should be a natural part of your daily routine, but some mornings when you’re in a rush, or if you’ve had a long day, you might be tempted to skip over a few essential oral hygiene practices. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy doesn’t require as much effort as you think, and to prove it here are 5 daily dental hygiene tips that make it easy to maintain excellent oral hygiene standards.
- Brush twice daily
Make sure you brush every morning and before going to bed to remove plaque, bacteria and food debris from your teeth and gums. This will help keep your mouth healthy and reduce the risks of cavities or gum inflammation which can be painful. Remember to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if the bristles are wearing down – this goes for manual toothbrushes and replaceable electric toothbrush heads . For proper brushing technique, including advice on what angle you should be holding your toothbrush at, check out this handy video.
- Floss every day
Flossing is often a stage people skip in their daily dental hygiene routine, but healthy teeth start with healthy gums, so don’t neglect this important area of your mouth. Flossing twice a day after you brush removes all the things that brushing misses, and it reduces your risk of developing gum disease which results in sore and swollen gums. Don’t be too hard on your gums when flossing though – a lot of people hurt their gums due to rushing or poor technique.
- Choose sugar free options
Ditch those sugary drinks at lunch time and stick to tooth-friendly water instead. If you can swop your mid-morning biscuits with some crunchy fruit or veg alternatives you’ll be doing your teeth and gums a real favour, as well as making generally healthier life choices. Bacteria in your mouth feeds on the acids in the sugar you consume, which destroys your tooth enamel and leads to cavities, so choose sugar free options or alternatives whenever you can.
- Don’t forget your calcium
Calcium plays a big role in the formation of strong teeth and bones, and it is recommended that adults get 700mg of calcium a day from their diet. The main sources of calcium are normally found in dairy products, like cheese, milk and yogurts, but you can also get your daily dose from dark green leafy veg, nuts, tofu and many healthy non-dairy drinks now have added calcium – just check the label.
- Take care of your teeth on the go
When you’re eating and drinking all day, your teeth are under constant attack. To take care of them when you’re out and about, chew sugar-free gum, drink plenty water after eating or go one step further and keep a spare toothbrush and toothpaste in your desk drawer for freshening up your mouth and looking after your teeth. Just because you are busy during the day doesn’t mean your teeth should suffer!
