How to take care of your oral hygiene and keep yourself away from the dentist

How to take care of your oral hygiene?

Your smile say a lot about you. Your teeth are the first thing people see. If you have bad oral hygiene or yellow teeth full of plaque this will not only affect how people see you, but it will also affect your health and if untreated, will lead to serious health issues and tooth loss in the future.

We all know how painful it is to have a toothache, IT’S NO JOKE! And we all know how expensive the dentist is and how terrifying is sitting in that torture chair! So, if you want to stay away from the dentist, you need to learn how to take care of your teeth and how to treat them nicely as you would like to be treated. 

Wash your teeth right after you wake up

  We have all learned that we should brush our teeth after we have our breakfast right? That’s not the case anymore. You should brush your teeth after you wake up before having any meal to get rid of the bacteria that have accumulated in your mouth during the night.

If you don’t brush your teeth before having breakfast, the bacteria will travel through your stomach and this will cause gut issues and cause an imbalance in your digestive system.

Don’t brush your teeth immediately after having a meal

  Sometimes we rush to brush our teeth right after we’ve finished eating especially if we’re in a hurry but this is not good for our teeth. You should wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes after you’re done eating to clean your mouth because remnants of acidic foods such as citrus fruits, bread, pastries…etc will soften and weaken your enamel.

And if you brush your teeth immediately after having these foods you’ll damage your teeth and this will lead to exposing the inner layer of the tooth, therefore, your centre nerve will be more exposed and this will make your teeth painfully sensitive.

Invest in the right oral care products

  When it comes to your health, you should never go cheap even if you’re on a tight budget. Because going cheap means spending a lot more in the long run when you eventually book the appointment at the dentist. So, save that money by buying the right products in the first place. It doesn’t have to be so expensive but definitely, it shouldn’t be that cheap. Something in between will do the job. My top recommendations are:

Toothbrush: When it comes to choosing the right toothbrush, you need to make sure it has some specifications. it needs to have soft bristles for comfortable brushing and to help protect your gum. A smaller head to clean one tooth at a time to ensure that all your teeth will get cleaned evenly.

Toothpaste and mouthwash:  The best toothpaste and mouthwash for adults are the ones that have fluoride, as fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth decay. Never skip mouth washing. Look for a mouthwash that contains antiplaque, antibacterial or anti-gingivitis ingredients. 

Don’t skip flossing

   Flossing is very important because toothbrushes will never reach in between the teeth. Floss before brushing your teeth to help get rid of all the food that is stuck and help eliminate calculus buildups and bacteria. 

You can also check

How to get rid of acid reflux instantly

Sanitize your toothbrush 

   I’m sure that so many people never sanitize their toothbrushes. And that could be very scary because the number of bacteria that can accumulate over time in your toothbrush is very dangerous.

Make it a habit and sanitize your toothbrush at least once a month. Boiling some water, pour it into a cup, then submerge the toothbrush for 3 minutes, then rinse it and it should be good to go.

Or, submerge the toothbrush in the bleach solution by adding a few drops of bleach to one cup of water and leave for 10 minutes and then wash it thoroughly with warm water. You can also use other methods like baby bottles sanitisers or rubbing alcohol. 

Replace the toothbrush every 3 months

   A toothbrush must be changed every 3 months. Because over time, toothbrush bristles will become worn out and that can be abrasive to your gum, which can lead to gum recession and inflammation. 

Another reason is that toothbrushes tend to be a good home for bacteria, which isn’t a good thing to have on something that you use daily to clean your mouth. Especially if you never sanitize your toothbrush.

Eat enough calcium and vitamin D 

  Calcium is very good for your teeth as it helps to strengthen them. A good way to make sure your body is absorbing calcium properly is by taking vitamin D supplements.

Never eat hot foods followed by cold beverages

  Eating very hot food followed by very cold drinks will make your teeth very sensitive and this will cause so much pain. Avoid having both hot and cold together.

Stay away from sugar

  Overall, sugar is bad for you, It’s one of the main reasons for tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth break down sugar to form acid. The acid dissolves the tooth surface which leads to tooth decay over time.

Learn the right way to brush your teeth

   Like anything else, brushing your teeth is a skill to learn. It’s simple but it can make a huge difference in the way your teeth are being cleaned.

• first, you need to make sure you’re using the right toothbrush (as explained above).
• second, prepare your toothbrush by washing it in warm water to soften the bristles before you put any toothpaste.
• Third, brush your teeth in a circular motion and make sure you’re reaching all of your teeth. lastly, don’t be aggressive while brushing your teeth as this will lead to tooth bleeding and other issues.

Don’t neglect your tongue 

   Your tongue can hold so much bacteria, even if you brush your teeth and floss and used all the oral care methods above, you still need to scrub your tongue with the toothbrush to remove any residue and bacteria left to ensure your mouth is well cleaned.

NEVER go to bed without brushing your teeth

   I know, sometimes it can be really hard to get ourselves to the bathroom to brush our teeth, especially after a long hectic day right? Just remember this 5 more minutes of your time can save you from the dentist and it will save more time and money in the future. Never go to bed without brushing your teeth.