Your oral health is very important to your overall wellbeing. Oftentimes, we neglect our mouths because we’re so busy focusing on the rest of our bodies. We worry about catching colds and flus, but seem to forget that our teeth and gums are also vulnerable to disease.
To keep your mouth in great shape, try our 10 oral hygiene tips:
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- Brush your teeth often:
This is a no-brainer, yet some people get so busy in their days that they don’t do it as much as they should. Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2-3 minutes each time. Set a timer if need be to ensure you are brushing for the recommended time period. You should be brushing after meals instead of before to ensure you remove food particles.
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- Floss like a boss:
Whether you use mint flavoured or plain old wax original floss, it’s a great way to preserve your oral hygiene. Flossing removes food bits that have lodged themselves between your teeth and along the gum line. Regular brushing alone can’t get everything, so floss daily.
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- Change your toothbrush:
You should get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. If you get sick with a cold or flu, you should change it sooner. If you notice the bristles get worn out after a month or so of use, you probably need to switch toothbrush brands or you are brushing too hard which brings us to #4 on this list.
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- Go electric:
If you brush too hard, you are doing your part to destroy your gums and tooth enamel. An electric toothbrush does the work for you, and it does without causing any damage. Like a manual toothbrush, you will need to change the head on your electric one every 3-4 months.
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- Quit smoking:
If it doesn’t kill you, it will kill your teeth and gums. Oral cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer and gum cancer do exist, and they’re all caused by smoking. If you smoke every day, you are upping your chances of getting irreversible oral diseases.
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- Eat a balanced diet:
You can have a piece of cake once and a while, but you should be eating well on a daily basis. Stick with green leafy vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains and you will keep your mouth looking and feeling great.
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- Don’t chew your sugar:
If you’re a gum chewer, make sure that you’re only chomping on sugar-free gum. Read gum labels carefully before popping a piece in your mouth.
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- Wear your apparatuses:
If you grind your teeth, wear your bite guard to bed. If you need to wear a retainer or apparatuses to keep your teeth in place, wear them. There’s a reason your dentist and orthodontist tell you to keep these guards in your mouth. It’s for your own good and it protects your enamel.
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- Rinse your mouth:
Use mouthwash once a day for 30 seconds at a time. By swishing with mouthwash you can get to the leftover food particles and plaque your toothbrush and floss couldn’t.
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- Visit the dentist at least every six months:
Go to the dentist for yearly or twice-yearly checkups and cleanings. Although this isn’t something you do every day, it is imperative to your dental health. Plus, your dentist will be very pleased to see that you’re brushing and flossing every day.