March Is Oral Health Month: Tips for Dental Hygiene

March is oral health month. During this time and beyond, prioritize your oral health to ensure your overall health. Not taking proper care of your oral health can result in respiratory and heart problems. Developing good routines and habits will set you on the path to achieving oral health. Here are some tips and mindful behaviors you can develop to improve your dental hygiene.

Brush at Least Twice Daily

This tip may seem obvious. However, few people follow it. The most crucial time to brush your teeth is at night, and few people do this. Brush your teeth right before you go to bed. You will get rid of food stuck between your teeth and gums throughout the day. Otherwise, bacteria will feed on this food to form plaque and tartar. 

Brush for at Least Two Minutes

Take your time. Properly brush your teeth for two to three minutes. Spend about 30 seconds on each area of your mouth. Brushing your teeth quickly without proper attention will cause you to leave out food particles and plaque. It leads to bad breath, tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Taking your time to brush carefully will prevent this. 

Commit to Flossing

Flossing is necessary to ensure the health of your teeth. When you brush your teeth, you can only reach three of the five surfaces of your teeth. Flossing helps you reach the other two and get rid of food particles stuck between your teeth. Otherwise, bacteria in your mouth will feed on these particles, resulting in plaque and discoloration of teeth. It may also result in cavities and gum disease.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash gives an extra layer of protection against bacteria. Mouthwash can get into soft tissue and crevices that you may not get into with brushing and flossing. You can find antibacterial mouthwashes at your local store. If you do not have access to an antibacterial wash, you can use warm salty water as your final rinse. It will remove any slimy layers of bacteria remaining in your mouth.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Fruits and vegetables are not only healthy for your body, but they are also great for your teeth. They do not stick easily between your teeth like processed foods and drinks. Chewing vegetables like carrots and celery can also help clean your teeth and stimulate your gums. Cutting back on eating sugary foods and drinks is not enough. However, adding fresh vegetables and fruits increases your saliva flow. Saliva helps wash away the remaining food particles before you brush your teeth.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

After doing all the above and more, there is one important tip you need to keep in mind. Visit the dentist at least once a year. Go in for a checkup and professional cleaning. During the cleaning, your dentist can see what may be wrong with your teeth and start preventive care. 

You must trust your dentist to help you take care of your teeth. Make sure you ask them questions on how to improve your dental hygiene. If you have not had a checkup, get one this oral health month.

For more tips for dental hygiene, visit John K. See, DDS, at our office in Camarillo, California. You can also call (805) 920-8600 to book an appointment today.