9 Dental Care Tips You Probably Weren’t Aware Of Before

Dental hygiene has a major impact on our health overall. But simple everyday brushing techniques and different products we’ve gotten used to since childhood might not be enough. That’s why it is so important to take care of our teeth properly following the best practices and recommendations of scientists and dentists.

We at Bright Side have found 9 tips on how to achieve simple regular habits to keep your teeth healthy and prevent the majority of problems in the future.

1. Wait before you brush

Many people love to start the day with a glass of juice and finish it by eating some fruit. There’s nothing bad in that — it’s sweet, tasty, and has a high vitamin C content. The main trouble comes when we start brushing our teeth soon after eating or drinking all these products.

You see, fruits have high acid contents that can soften and damage the enamel of your teeth. So brushing right after consuming them is not the best thing you can do for your dental health. That’s why after you’ve had citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, or soda it’s better to wait for at least 30 minutes.

2. Start brushing with the most difficult places

There are many techniques for cleaning your teeth, but only a few of them are safe enough for everyday use. First of all, doctors advise to always start with the most difficult places and end with the easy ones.

Many of us do the opposite and start brushing the front teeth overlooking the inside of our teeth and many other important areas for our dental health. Just get this into habit: start with the back of the mouth and then move tooth by tooth first through the inside and then outside of your teeth. Finish with the chewing surfaces.

3. It’s OK to brush without any toothpaste

If you are not sure about which toothpaste to use, start brushing dry — without any toothpaste or water. The bristles of your toothbrush alone can disrupt the bacteria. Toothpaste is only an additional tool. Actually, researchers have shown that dry brushing reduces plaque buildup, bleeding, and gingivitis by 50% minimum.

4. Add mouthwash to your routine

Of course, mouthwash cannot replace brushing and flossing. It won’t help in getting rid of all the bulk of bacteria on your teeth and gums. But anyway, it is a good additional oral health benefit. The best time to use it is after a thorough brush of your teeth. And to get the maximum benefit from it, it’s recommended to avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes after rinsing.

5. Add gums as well

Also, it’s great to chew some gum after you’ve had your meal. It promotes the flow of saliva in the mouth which helps to neutralize acids. In particular, saliva is full of calcium and phosphate which re-mineralizes your teeth, strengthens the enamel, and even reduces tooth sensitivity. The only requirement is that the gum should be sugar-free since harmful oral bacteria feed off the sugars we eat.

6. Switch to soft-bristled brush

Toothbrushes come in a variety of bristle strengths. But if you’re using a hard brush, maybe it’s time to consider replacing it with a soft-bristled brush. Even medium-bristled ones may be very abrasive and damaging to your gums and teeth over time.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that the soft brush must be the cheapest one. The latter ones may not have been examined for safety and efficiency. So it’s always better to choose a high-quality brush with all the proper seals and approvals.

7. Don’t brush too often

It is known for sure that we should brush our teeth at least twice a day since doing it once a day is not enough to keep them clean. Anyway, some people like to brush their teeth three times a day, or even more. And while it is still possible to over-brush your teeth, it is more likely to damage them with a bad technique rather than brushing too often.

Just like many things in our life more is not always better. This is the same with brushing. If you brush too often, your enamel may wear down which can cause sensitive teeth. Also, they will appear yellower than usual because the yellow dentin behind your enamel will become more visible. In some cases, this can end up with a gum recession.

8. Water is the best beverage for your teeth

Just like saliva, drinking water also keeps your mouth clean. Unlike juice, soda, or sports drinks it doesn’t only wash down your dinner but doesn’t leave any unwanted sugar on your teeth. Water dilutes the acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth as well. For more proper cleaning we can even use some water flosser which is more effective than any usual floss today.

9. Eat more crunchy foods

Fresh and crunchy foods contain much healthy fiber and are simply the best choice for your teeth. Among them, fiber-rich raw fruits, vegetables and nuts take the first place. They can clean teeth, stimulate saliva production, hydrate the mouth and lessen the growth of bacteria as well.

It’s that easy? What other useful tips do you know on maintaining oral hygiene? Please share with us all in the comments below.