Good oral hygiene… what does that even mean?

A confident smile starts with a healthy mouth. That's why we're excited to share this series of real talk and straightforward solutions on how to improve oral health. This is the third post of the series.

"Take care of your teeth." It’s a phrase thrown around a lot, but what does it REALLY mean? We break down some key routines you should incorporate into your life to maintain your teeth for a healthy smile.

The secret art of brushing your teeth … the right way

We've heard it time and again: brush your teeth twice daily. But it's not just about the frequency. Here's a quick list to take your brushing game pro:

• Use an electric toothbrush, or use the right technique for a manual brush

• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush with a head small enough to reach the small corners of your mouth

• Make sure your toothpaste has a remineralizing agent. Read our post on remineralization to help you pick the right way to mineralize for you. 

• Brush your teeth for two minutes and ensure you reach all surfaces of your teeth. And don't forget to get your gum line to keep bacteria and gingivitis away!

• Spit out your toothpaste but don’t rinse out your mouth with water. This is because the leftover toothpaste on your teeth helps remineralize your teeth even after you stop brushing!

• Replace your toothbrush head every 3-4 months 

When should you brush? 30 minutes or more after eating breakfast and dinner. 

Why the wait? A lot of the foods you eat or drink (especially fizzy drinks) contain acids that your toothbrush can accidentally spread around. Waiting for your saliva to clear the acids ensures your brush doesn't move those acids around, and removes the bacteria from your teeth.

Clean between your teeth too. 

Yup. You know it. Floss. At least once a day. A lot of people are surprised as to how much extra food particles and plaque can be removed by flossing.Take about 15 inches of floss and wrap the ends around your middle fingers of each hand. Then grab the floss between the thumbs and first finger to get a tight 2-3 inch section that you can pull between your teeth. Gently scrape the floss against the sides of each tooth from the gum outwards as well. Make sure to use a fresh section of floss for each too.

Make slight changes to your food and drink habits. 

Sugar and sugary foods are a huge contributor to tooth decay. This is because the bacteria that make the acids that cause tooth decay absolutely thrive on sugar. There are a couple of ways that you can help with this:  

• If you can, enjoy those sugary or acidic drinks with a meal. Your mouth naturally becomes more acidic when you eat and drink, so pairing food and drink reduces the acidity levels.

• Drink sugary or acidic drinks in 20 min rather than sipping over a few hours. That reduces the exposure of the acidity in your mouth.

• Rinse your mouth out with water immediately after finishing your drink. This removes a ton of lingering particles.

• Eat raw carrots or greens daily - it's like a loofah for your teeth

Why is this all important? 

The main purpose of good oral hygiene is to prevent dental problems down the road. This is because dental plaque and tartar can build up and cause issues such as tooth decay, tooth erosion, and gum disease (like gingivitis or periodontitis). 

Dental plaque is a soft whitish deposit that forms on the surfaces of your teeth. This happens when bacteria combine with food and your saliva. The bacteria then produce acid that damages your teeth. This is removed by good oral hygiene. ‍

Tartar or calculus, is a hardened calcified plaque. It sticks firmly to the teeth which makes it difficult to brush off. This is why seeing a dentist regularly is also part of good oral hygiene. The dentist or hygienist can remove tartar with special instruments during a cleaning.

Oh and don’t forget to get regular check-ups at the dentist!

Getting regular check-ups allows your dentist to detect oral health issues early to prevent complications down the road. So what should you expect at a routine check-up? 

• A cleaning - This is often performed by a dental hygienist. They use various tools and instruments to remove or scrape tartar and plaque from around your gum line and teeth surfaces. Then they will polish your teeth. 

• X-rays (potentially) - If ordered by the dentist, you will also have x-rays taken. This could be for one specific spot in your mouth, for a specific tooth or even for your entire jaw area. This is so the dentist can look into the deeper areas of your teeth and jaw bone that they can’t see just by looking at your mouth. ‍

• Exam - Once the cleaning and x-rays are done, the dentist will then come and take a look at your teeth, examine your gums, soft palette, throat and neck and check for any issues. The doctor will also review any X-rays that may have been taken. Once that is done, your dentist might make recommendations on any additional dental work you might need. This is also a good time for you to discuss your overall oral health with them.

There you have it. If you made it to the bottom, congrats! You've armed yourself with everything you need to level up your oral hygiene routine and keep your teeth looking beautiful and healthy.

Be a smart mouth with Wally. Custom oral care designed for your mouth and your life.