How to Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home in Harrisonburg, VA
Here in Harrisonburg, we’re all spending a little more time in the comfort and safety of our homes. Look on the bright side! It’s a great opportunity to revisit some of your daily health routines, including (and especially) caring for your teeth.
There are plenty of important at-home habits you should adopt to care for your teeth and keep your smile safe and healthy.
1. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes
Brushing your teeth is so easy but so important! And let’s face it, we all have 4 minutes to spare every day. Here are the tips I always share with my patients:
Brush after breakfast and before bed
You can go longer, but spend at least 2 minutes brushing each time
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush, and extra points for using an electric toothbrush!
2. Don’t skip the floss
Flossing can seem intimidating. Instead of letting it scare you away, match it to your comfort level. There are plenty of floss options to fit your style:
Traditional string floss (our favorite)
Hand-held flosser
Interdental floss
Brushing alone can’t clean out the nooks and crannies. Do you really want that piece of broccoli hiding out between your teeth for days on end? Grab the floss and get to work at least once a day.
3. Indulge in nature’s floss!
Incorporating vegetables into your daily diet will not only improve your overall health. Many vegetables can also do wonders for keeping your teeth clean and healthy!
How? Well, the fibrous nature of vegetables requires lots of chewing, which causes you to produce more saliva. Any saliva is good for teeth because it naturally neutralizes acid. It also contains calcium and phosphate that remineralize your teeth.
Celery is especially special. It breaks down into fibrous strands that naturally clean the teeth — it’s nature’s dental floss!
4. Keep your brush healthy
We talked about how brushing your teeth is key to keeping your smile healthy. If that’s the case, keeping your toothbrush healthy is important, too! Make sure your brush is working for you at full capacity, 100 percent of the time.
After brushing, thoroughly rinse your bristles of any residue
Store your toothbrush upright to allow for proper drying
When traveling, don’t leave your brush trapped inside a travel cover throughout your trip — let it breathe to avoid mold!
Never share your toothbrush with anyone else
Replace your brush every 3 months
5. Limit the sugar
The foods you eat affect your wellbeing, including the health of your teeth and gums. Too much sugar is especially damaging and can lead to enamel erosion, decay, and cavities. Give in to your sweet tooth every once in a while, but in general, adopt a balanced diet that limits foods like:
Soda and carbonated drinks
Candy
Dried fruit
Sweetened coffee drinks
White bread
6. Stay hydrated
Saliva is the primary way your body washes away food and bacteria in your mouth. When you’re not drinking enough water, your body can’t produce as much saliva and can’t do its job. Additionally, drink tap water instead of bottled water. Most counties in Harrisonburg and throughout the US add fluoride to their water source, which will strengthen the enamel of your teeth.
7. Don’t use your teeth as tools
Tearing bags open, popping off bottle caps, cutting your fingernails…all things that should never be done with your teeth! Your teeth are meant for chewing food and…that’s it! Learn about the 6 things you should never do with your teeth.
8. Careful there, mouth breather
Do you naturally breathe through your mouth more than through your nose? Take stock of your breathing habits during the day and at night. Breathing through your mouth too much will dry out your gums and teeth, leading to a change in the natural bacteria of your mouth. You’ll be much more likely to develop gum disease and tooth decay.
You should also pay attention to any changes in your sleep patterns, including how tired you feel during the day. If you wake up with a headache or feel sluggish all day, you could be suffering from sleep apnea or tooth grinding. You’ll want to seek a diagnosis and get help right away.
9. Give yoga or meditation a try
Speaking of tooth grinding, it may be time to take a breather and just chill. Stress is the number one cause of tooth grinding and also contributes to TMJ disorder. If you’re grinding your teeth or your jaw and mouth feel sore, you deserve some relaxation.
Breathing activities like yoga and meditation can work wonders for reducing stress. You might also benefit from massaging your jaw and facial muscles on a daily basis.
10. Just say no to Tik-Tok trends
If you’re a Tik-Tok or other social media user, you may have seen some recent dental trends making the rounds. Tends like filing your teeth and swishing with hydrogen peroxide have been making the rounds on social media with disastrous outcomes. Following trends like these without first consulting with your dentist can lead to permanent damage — just don’t do it!
11. Don’t let a bad thing go unresolved
Your at-home care can make all the difference. But if something isn’t right, seek help. Don’t ignore pains, aches, or changes in your dental health. The longer you put off care, the more extensive (and expensive) the fix usually is.
One more thing — even if it isn’t broken, you still need to maintain it! Don’t wait until you feel a pain or notice something looks “off” before calling your dentist. Keep up on your routine 6-month checkups and stop problems from happening in the first place.
Our Harrisonburg dentist is here to support your at-home dental health
During good times and bad, certain and uncertain, let the team at Batchelor Dentistry be your first call. If you have a question about how to take care of your teeth at home, contact us. And if you have a problem, we’re here. Our team is ensuring going to the dentist is safe for our patients during COVID-19 and we’d love to see you.