Many of us throughout the country are at home right now, trying to halt the stop of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors are urging us to keep ourselves as healthy during this time in an effort to keep our immune systems as strong as possible. If you’re spending most of your time at home right now, we have another suggestion: this is an excellent opportunity to fine tune your at-home oral hygiene routine. After all, there is a strong connection between oral health and overall health, so there’s no better time than the present to make sure you and your family are doing everything possible to have healthy teeth and gums. What follows are a few steps you can take to make the most out of your daily oral hygiene practices.
- Brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. But be careful not to brush too vigorously since you can actually damage your enamel and harm your gums if you do. And remember to use a soft-bristled toothbrush as an added precaution.
- Floss at least once a day. Brushing your teeth doesn’t remove all the bacteria from between your teeth, so flossing helps. Once again, remember not to be too vigorous with your flossing, since you can harm your gum tissue if you do. Simply push the floss down in between teeth and back up again in a “C” motion. The intent is to remove any leftover bacteria from between the teeth, so the floss should be in contact with the tooth surface both on the way down and back up again.
- Try a water flosser device. If you’re really interested in doing everything you can do to maintain good oral health, invest in a water flosser device. There are a variety available either online or at your local drug store. You’ll be amazed at how much trapped food can be dislodged with a water flosser! Although you can use it twice a day, once a day should suffice.
- Use an anti-microbial mouthwash twice a day. Look for an ADA-approved brand and one that is marketed to fight gingivitis (gum disease).
Although you can choose any time of the day to perform your at-home oral hygiene routine, most dentists encourage their patients to follow their routines especially before they go to bed at night.
Another good time would be after you eat breakfast in the morning. The sequence is important as well: start with brushing, followed by flossing, then use the water flosser, and finally rinse with an anti-microbial mouthwash. And don’t forget to visit your dentist at least twice a year. Following these tips, you and your family can enjoy years of good oral health – and that will help your overall health as well.
