So you’re once again staring at your bathroom mirror, half-asleep, getting ready to brush your teeth. You’re trying to remember what steps to take to make sure your teeth are clean and healthy for the day. You know that your teeth can have a big effect on your appearance and your confidence—so get off to the right start with an excellent oral hygiene routine to keep your gums healthy.
We at 123Dentist want to help you keep your healthy oral hygiene routine! Below are some tips on what your oral hygiene routine should look like, so your teeth can remain beautiful and healthy.
Brushing Your Teeth
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, spending an equal amount of time (30 seconds) in each quadrant of your mouth
- Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle pointed towards the gums
- Brush all the surfaces of your teeth (the sides and the chewing surface on top)
- Brush your teeth twice a day
Flossing Your Teeth
- Floss your teeth once a day
- Make sure to floss the teeth at the back of your mouth too
- Use 45 cm of floss—wrap each end around your middle fingers and hold 2 inches between your index fingers and thumbs, gently lower it in between your teeth
- Follow the curve of your teeth (c-shape) to avoid damaging your gums
- Repeat this for every tooth, as you move to the next tooth take the dirty floss with one finger and unwind the clean floss from the other finger
- Check out this article on how to floss: https://www.123dentist.com/why-should-i-floss-dental-floss-faq-how-to-video/
Rinsing Your Mouth with Mouthwash
- Rinse your mouth with antimicrobial mouthwash after you brush and floss your teeth
- Sip a small amount (approx. 30ml) of mouthwash and swish it around in your mouth for 30-40 seconds, make sure your lips are closed
- Spit it out
Cleaning Your Tongue
- If you’re using a toothbrush—put a little bit of toothpaste on your toothbrush and brush your tongue, but don’t brush back and forth – instead, place the brush at the back and sweep forward, then pick up the brush and repeat. Clean as much of the tongue as you can without gagging and rinse your mouth.
- If you’re using a tongue scrapper—take both ends of the scrapper in each hand and use the middle to gently scrape and clean your tongue. Rinse your mouth when you’re done.
- To learn more about cleaning your tongue, click here: https://www.123dentist.com/why-you-should-brush-your-tongue/
Additional Oral Hygiene Tips:
- Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings
- Examine your mouth during your oral hygiene routine and contact your dentist if you notice anything unusual.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
How do you know if you have good oral health?
Although you’ll never truly know if you have good oral health until you see your dentist for a check-up, here are some factors that may indicate that you have good oral health:
- Your gums are pink and do not get sore or bleed when you brush or floss your teeth
- Your teeth feel clean and not “fuzzy”
- You don’t constantly have bad breath
One key factor to having a good oral hygiene routine is understanding what your oral needs are. During your next check-up or cleaning appointment, ask your dentist or dental hygienist if there is anything you should pay extra attention to during your oral hygiene routine. If you have any questions about your oral hygiene routine, visit a 123Dentist location today!
