Maintaining good oral hygiene is critically important, both to keep your smile looking its best and for your overall health. This is especially true as you get older, as otherwise, you may end up with severe issues that cost you a lot of money in expensive dental bills, as well as cause you a lot of unnecessary pain.
However, by just making a few switches to your lifestyle, you may find that you can improve your oral health quickly and easily. Here are 4 simple habits which can help you with this.
Incorporate Other Practices Besides Brushing
Naturally, brushing your teeth twice a day is probably the most important thing you can do to look after your oral health. However, there are a number of additional habits which can go a long way to keeping your mouth in great condition.
First, flossing can be beneficial in terms of removing any unpleasant stuck food between your teeth and can also reduce your plaque build-up. Many types of mouthwash also have ingredients designed to cosmetically improve the appearance of your teeth, while containing fluoride which can keep them clean and healthy. Finally, you might find that adding oral probiotics to your daily hygiene regimen can keep your oral health at its peak.
Choose a Teeth-Friendly Diet
One of the most important things that impacts your oral health is your overall diet. Of course, avoiding sugary foods and beverages, such as fruit juices and sodas, are one of the most vital things to ensure your teeth remain in good condition as you grow older. However, what some people might not know is that there are also some foods and beverages which are beneficial for your health.
Raw vegetables, such as cucumbers and carrots, as well as dairy products like cheese, for example, rub against the surface of your teeth and thus can be a helpful way of removing plaque and other harmful substances. Similarly, drinking plenty of water can help rinse any leftover food particles and sugars from your teeth to prevent them from harming them further.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Counterintuitively, ensuring you get a dental check-up at least once every year, and preferably twice, can actually save you money in the long term. Regular consultations with your dentist will enable them to spot any potential conditions before they become more serious. This can not only improve your oral health but save you money, as emergency dental procedures can be exponentially more expensive than scheduled check-ups.
In addition, by regularly examining your teeth, your dentist can advise you on how to take better care of them.
Don’t Neglect Your Tongue
What you might not be aware of is that a major cause of bad breath, as well as a place where plaque and bacteria can build up, is your tongue. As a result, many dentists now recommend that you clean your tongue periodically, as part of your oral hygiene regimen. This can be done simply using a toothbrush. Doing so can prevent plaque build-up, bad breath, and prevent the development of tiny bumps on your tongue.