Brushing teeth

It is common knowledge that your dental hygiene can affect your overall health. If you are concerned that you are not doing enough, you may wish to discuss it with your dentist.

In the meantime, consider the following to help improve your dental hygiene:

Know When to Brush

Most people brush their teeth twice a day and, at least one of those times, is right after they are done eating.

For best results, you want to brush at least 30 minutes after you eat. If you eat or drink anything acidic and brush immediately after, the acid may be pushed deeper into the enamel.

Know When to Rinse

It is also important that you do not rinse after you brush your teeth, especially if you need the benefit of toothpaste with fluoride. Rinsing will only rinse the fluoride away and you will not get any of the benefits of it.

Limit Fluoride

According to Smith Family Dental, a dentistry in Murray, Utah, while fluoride usage is a must for good dental health, there is also a possibility you are using too much of it.

Small children may develop white spots on developing adult teeth, while adults will find that too much fluoride will stain and possibly harm the enamel.

Acidic Foods

Soda, citrus fruits, and tomatoes can cause major problems for your teeth if you are getting too much.

If you are going to eat citrus fruits and other foods high in acidity, it is best to try to make sure you rinse your mouth with water to try to rinse some of that acid away.

Proper Way to Floss

Just like learning how to brush, you need to be sure that you are flossing your teeth the correct way. Take some extra time with your hygienist in learning the proper way to prevent gum disease.

Oral Piercings

Oral piercings may seem harmless, but the fact is that tongue piercings can add a lot of bad bacteria to the oral cavity. Infection can set in quickly and cause major problems. Along with this, a tongue piercing can be the cause of broken teeth.

Bad Bacteria

The mouth cavity is filled with bacteria, but you can take precautions to reduce some of the bad bacteria. Antiseptic mouthwashes are a must to reduce bad bacteria. You can also use a gum containing xylitol, which is known to reduce bacteria.

Dental hygiene plays an important factor in your overall health. By following the above tips, you can be sure to keep yourself in top shape.