Excellent oral health is the foundation of a brilliant, striking smile. Despite increasing patient awareness, numerous individuals still struggle with maintaining a healthy smile. Oral health difficulties, like gum disease, are associated with various conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Therefore, taking proactive, meticulous care of every element of your smile is essential. Here are some dental hygiene guidelines that Eric R Koch, DDS, recommends to maximize the efficacy of your oral care regimen.

  1. The Correct Brushing Trick

It is essential to clean all parts of the grin while brushing, including your teeth, gums, and tongue. Close to the gum line, position the bristles of your brush at a 45-degree angle. Use an up-and-down and back-and-forth motion to scrub.

Additionally, it is essential to scrape the roof of the mouth and the surfaces of the tongue. This brushing eradicates the microorganisms responsible for foul breath. You should also make it a habit to clean your teeth twice daily, ideally before bed and in the morning.

  1. Brush Extensively

Numerous persons brush their teeth frequently, but not extensively enough to effectively remove plaque. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice daily for not less than two minutes. Preferably, you can time how long you take for a proper, extensive clean by listening to a song or setting a timer.

  1. Floss Regularly

You should floss regularly to eradicate bacteria and leftover food debris lurking in the tough-to-reach crevices between teeth. Use a floss piece that is about18 inches long to allow you to use a fresh region of floss every few teeth without reintroducing the bacteria you just eliminated. Floss should scrape against your teeth in a ‘C’ shape motion, circling every tooth.

  1. Use Mouthwash

While flossing and brushing are key components of a dental hygiene regimen, mouthwash helps reduce plaque by killing harmful germs. Using mouthwash twice daily could remove food particles and other irritants that flossing and brushing cannot reach.

  1. Adopt a Tooth-Friendly Diet

Foods like chicken, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and cheese are recognized as tooth-healthy foods. Besides, these foods typically need more chewing time, stimulating the salivary glands and assisting in neutralizing acids that could wear the teeth.

  1. Reduce Alcohol and Soda Consumption

It is common knowledge that tobacco smoke harms oral and overall health. Nonetheless, reducing your consumption of alcohol and soda is also beneficial. These beverages include high sugar concentrations and acidic ingredients that promote plaque formation and erode tooth enamel. Increasing your water intake moisturizes your body and removes dangerous plaque-forming substances.

As proactive and rigorous as your dental health regimen is, the most crucial component in care for your smile is seeing your general dentist for comprehensive teeth cleanings and oral exams. Dental issues could emerge that you cannot address with self-care measures. Visiting your dentist could assist in safeguarding your dental health and improve your whole-body wellness. Dr. Eric R Koch and his team at Advanced Dental Care of East Texas deliver extensive preventive care through patient education. Arrange your oral health care visit today by calling the Jasper, TX office or booking online.