Good dental hygiene is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. A proper oral hygiene routine doesn’t have to be time consuming or complicated. Follow these nine simple dental hygiene tips, and you can have the healthy and bright smile you have always wanted.

1. Swap sugary drinks for water to maintain proper dental hygiene.

Consuming sugar is terrible for your overall health, but it can be detrimental to your oral hygiene. The bacteria left behind after consuming something sugary turns to acid. This acid will eat away at your tooth enamel and cause significant problems down the road. 

Pay attention to how much sugar you eat in a day. You may be surprised by just how much it is. Then try swapping your sugary drink of choice with water. Your teeth and your body will thank you!

2. Avoid starchy foods and add fresh crunchy produce to promote oral hygiene.

As bad as sugar is for your teeth, the American Dental Association has found starchy foods far worse. Why? Because starch breaks down into sugar, and it sticks around. 

When you eat starchy food, the particles often linger in your mouth. The result is food left sitting in and around your teeth, eating away at your enamel for an extended period of time. Try adding fresh, crisp produce to your diet instead. 

3. Don’t skip your nighttime brushing for a healthy dental check.

It is probably not news that your dentist recommends brushing twice a day. Despite that being a known fact, a Delta Dental study found that only 55% of Americans brush their teeth twice a day. 14% do it three or more times a day, and the rest brush once, or not at all. 

Not brushing your teeth before bed means that the sugar, starch, and bacteria from the day are left to sit and eat away at your enamel all night. That can have a devastating long term effect on your oral hygiene.

4. Brush your teeth and your tongue for better dental hygiene.

Your tongue can hold a lot of bacteria. If left untouched, that bacteria can spread throughout your mouth and body. This bacteria is a leading contributor to bad breath. 

Making tongue cleaning part of your regular oral hygiene routine is the best way to ensure it gets done twice a day as recommended. Use your toothbrush on your tongue for a few seconds or use a tongue scraper. As a bonus, you may find that food tastes better with a clean tongue.

5. Add mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine.

Mouthwash is an excellent tool for maintaining oral hygiene. Its many benefits include eliminating bacteria from hard to reach spaces in your mouth. Some mouthwashes can even strengthen enamel. 

Mouthwash is a quick and easy way to finish off any dental hygiene routine.  

6. Don’t smoke to maintain proper oral hygiene.

Smoking isn’t good for your overall health, but it is especially bad for your oral hygiene. According to the CDC, smokers are at twice the risk of gum disease. Worse yet, gum disease treatments are often less effective on smokers, leaving them with lasting severe health issues.

If you are a smoker, consider seeing a dentist near you as soon as possible for a check-up. Catching a condition like gum disease early is crucial. Putting the pack down is one of the most crucial dental hygiene tips.

7. Clean your toothbrush, and don’t share it for better dental hygiene.

Cleaning your toothbrush is simple yet extremely important. All you have to do is thoroughly rinse the toothpaste and food particles from your toothbrush after each use. This simple rinse prevents bacteria from growing in particles that would otherwise get left behind. 

It is also important that you never share your toothbrush. When you do, you are sharing all the bacteria found in your mouth and possibly even blood. For that reason, even sharing among family members isn’t recommended. Cleaning your toothbrush is a cornerstone of dental hygiene tips.

8. Floss or use a water pick for a healthy dental check-up.

Flossing is one thing we all know we are supposed to do regularly, but nearly 59% of Americans admit to not flossing every day. That means small food particles are left between teeth to eat away at the enamel and cause cavities. This is a crucial dental hygiene tip.

Flossing can be a challenge for some. In that case, a water pick is a great way to get into the small cracks and tight spaces between your teeth.

9. Visit your dentist regularly as part of a great oral hygiene routine.

Visiting your dentist at least once a year is one of our top oral hygiene tips. Whether you have underlying dental issues or not, a regular visit with your dentist will ensure that problems are dealt with quickly when they arise, and you can avoid any future issues.

Good dental hygiene is a crucial part of leading a long and healthy life. Following these nine dental hygiene tips will put you on the right track for a healthy and bright smile!