You may already know the importance of practicing good oral hygiene at home, but are you using the right tools to clean your teeth? Not every oral hygiene tool is designed to protect you from disease-causing bacteria. Your Marco dental care provider cares about your health and can tell you about the best products for a beautiful and healthy smile. 

Why is Good Home Dental Care Important?

You may have heard the importance of visiting the dentist twice a year, but you shouldn’t rely only on those checkups to maintain a healthy smile. In fact, what you do at home between appointments can significantly impact your oral health. Bacteria and plaque can quickly grow in your mouth after you clean it. If you aren’t controlling this with daily brushing and flossing, it can lead to plaque and tartar buildup.

The better you take care of your teeth at home; the less likely your dentist will need to use those scraping tools that may frighten you!

What Do You Need to Care for Your Teeth at Home?

When it comes to taking good care of your teeth at home, you’ll need the right oral hygiene tools. The most important thing to do when looking for the best ones is to make sure they have the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval on them. This professional association of dentists is dedicated to helping people achieve excellent oral health, so anything with their seal is a great choice.

Below are some of the essential oral hygiene tools you need for a happy and healthy smile.

Toothpaste with Fluoride

When looking for toothpaste, you want to make sure it contains fluoride. This mineral is essential for keeping your teeth strong and healthy. Toothpaste with between 1,350 and 1,500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride is the most effective for adults. All the other properties, such as flavor and whitening properties, are only a matter of preference.

Toothbrush

Most dentists recommend a toothbrush with soft bristles because they’re gentle on the gums. This is an ideal choice if you have sensitive gums. Hard bristled toothbrushes can damage the root surface and enamel, especially if you brush vigorously.

Dental Floss or Picks

People often overlook the importance of flossing, but doing this gets the areas between the teeth that brushing alone cannot reach. Like toothbrushes, several types of floss are available, from waxed to woven to shred resistant. For people who have trouble using dental floss, floss picks are easier to use and just as effective.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash is excellent for killing harmful bacteria in your mouth while strengthening your teeth and preventing gum disease. But not all are created the same. Cosmetic mouth rinses only temporarily freshen bad breath. You’ll want to use an antimicrobial mouthwash with the active ingredients that control bad breath, plaque, gingivitis, and decay.

Some of these ingredients include:

• Peroxide

• Fluoride

• Essential oils

• Chlorohexidine

• Cetylpyridinium chloride

Tongue Scraper

While you may take the time to clean your teeth and gums, you can’t forget about your tongue! In fact, your tongue carries tons of bacteria that can cause bad breath and other oral concerns. Using a toothbrush to clean your tongue is an alternative, but scrapers are much more effective.

To properly use a scraper, you’ll need to start from the back of your tongue and gently pull forward. It may seem awkward to use, especially if it’s your first time, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it the more you use it!

Water

Staying hydrated is essential for having a healthy mouth. Drinking a lot of water flushes out the residue and other bacteria in your mouth. This can help prevent cavities and gum disease. Being hydrated also keeps your mouth moist, which is essential for your oral health.

You should note that beverages like coffee or alcohol can dry your mouth out. Make sure to limit those or increase your water intake if you decide to have some.

Other Tips for Taking Care of Your Teeth Between Dental Visits

While cleaning your teeth and mouth every day is essential for good oral health, you can also do several other things to ensure your oral health is in top shape. Follow these tips for taking care of your teeth between dental visits.

Limit Sugar

We all know the harmful effects sugar can have on our teeth! To keep your smile healthy and beautiful, you’ll want to limit your sugar intake. This means swapping out the soda for some water and saying no to candy. Chewy candy is especially harmful to your teeth because pieces of it can get stuck and attract harmful bacteria that will break down your enamel.

The best way to keep your teeth in the best shape is to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do if you want to have a healthy and beautiful smile. Not only can tobacco give you chronic bad breath, but it can also stain your teeth and increase plaque and tartar buildup. Smoking is also known to increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease.

Wear a Mouth Guard When Necessary

If you play a contact sport or grind your teeth at night, you’ll want to protect them with a mouth guard. This will prevent cracks, chips, or other types of damage from the excessive force.

The most common injury young athletes face is getting a tooth knocked out, and people with bruxism can wear their teeth down over time. Both can impact your oral health and the appearance of your smile.

Chew Sugarless Gum

Many dentists recommend cleaning your teeth between meals, but chewing gum can also help if that’s not possible. This increases your saliva production, which can flush out all the bad bacteria and food particles left in your mouth after eating. Increased saliva flow can also reduce plaque acid and tooth decay while strengthening your teeth.

The most important part is ensuring that the gum is sugarless. Otherwise, you’ll have the opposite effect!

Experience Incredible Marco Dental Care!

Knowing how to care for your oral health between dental visits will make your dentist happy and leave you with a smile you’ll want to confidently show the world. Maintaining good oral care practices at home is only part of it. You’ll also want to have a great dentist who cares about your oral and overall health!