Tips From Your Dentist in Benbrook to Improve Your Oral Hygiene

From the time you were a young child, you probably had it drilled into your head that brushing your teeth twice a day is important. That lesson has stuck with you into adulthood, and now brushing is almost as much a part of your daily life as breathing. That’s awesome! But there is more you can do to maintain a fresh and clean mouth. Here are a few handy tips from your dentist in Irving that will help you keep your smile looking and feeling its best.

Floss at Least Once a Day

Too many people neglect flossing because they don’t realize how important it is — but it is vital! When you brush, you only clean about 60 percent of your teeth’s surfaces; you can’t reach those super tight spaces between your pearly whites. Flossing gets into those little openings and clears away harmful plaque and food particles that may eventually lead to cavities.

Keep in mind that regular string floss is the best way to clean between teeth. Dental pickers and water flossers are somewhat effective, but they don’t deliver the same results as regular waxed floss.

Don’t Forget Your Tongue

Your tongue can easily collect loads of bacteria and become a source of stinky breath. That bacteria can also hop on over to your teeth and cause damage there as well. Here are a few suggestions for keeping your tongue clean:

• Brush it. It’s easy to run your toothbrush over your tongue while you’re cleaning your teeth.
• Use a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper is a tool that is especially designed to remove toxins and bacteria. It is more effective at cleaning the tongue than a toothbrush.
• Use a mouth rinse. A mild antibacterial mouth rinse can kill germs on your tongue and across your mouth, leaving you with fresh breath and a confident, minty smile.

Drink More Water

Saliva is one of your mouth’s main defenses against bacteria, but if you don’t drink enough water, your mouth can dry out, giving a golden opportunity to all the icky microbes that want to harm your smile. Keep a reusable water bottle with you and sip it throughout the day. Drinking water is especially important after you’ve eaten since it can help rinse away any lingering bits of food.

Talk to Your Dentist

It’s important that you visit your dentist in Benbrook at least twice a year for a professional cleaning. However, these visits also offer a chance for you to get personalized advice on how to maintain a cleaner, healthier mouth. Be sure to ask your dentist or hygienist:

• Is there a specific toothbrush that you believe does the best job of cleaning teeth?
• What kind of toothpaste and mouthwash do you suggest I use?
• Based on what you’ve noticed in my mouth, do you have any other tips to help me improve my oral hygiene?

A heathy mouth is a happy mouth! We hope these tips will help you keep your teeth, gums, tongue, and breath as clean as can be.

About the Dentist

Throughout his decades in the dental field, Dr. Mark Givan has helped countless patients to maintain and improve their oral health. If it’s time for your next checkup or you have questions about how to care for your teeth and gums, please contact our office at 817-926-5556.