October is National Dental Hygiene Month! It makes perfect sense as October is the month of Halloween candy! It’s also a great time to really try to create good dental hygiene habits as the holidays months come and you’ll be sucking on peppermints sticks and unwrapping chocolate coins! Here are a few great habits to get into in honor of the month.
- Brushing
We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Let the first brushing of the day be in the morning to erase morning breath and any bacteria built up over night. It’s very important to brush again at night to remove bacteria from the day as well as any built up food that may be lingering in crevices. You don’t want that staying in your mouth all night long. Some toothbrushes have a ridged back side on the other side of the brushes’ bristles. That is for tongue scrubbing! Also very important for maintaining mouth health.
The toothbrush you use is very important too. It should have soft bristles. A medium or hard bristled brush may seem like a good idea for brushing your hard teeth, but remember, the gums are very sensitive around your teeth. This also brings us to maneuver. Brush your teeth in a soft circular motion. Get all the sides and surfaces of your teeth and brush for a solid two minutes.
We also recommend getting your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. This type of cleaning can help remove hard deposits on your teeth that daily brushing cannot remove. It also helps prevent gum disease and damage.
- Flossing
Flossing your teeth is something most people don’t make enough time for. However, it is a vital component of dental hygiene! Flossing can help prevent bacteria and plaque build up on your teeth in the way that brushing can’t always. Flossing allows you to clean food stuck in between your teeth. Not flossing and letting food particles remain there is what can lead to cavities. The food sits, spoils and creates and hole in your tooth where infection can travel to your gums and into the root of your tooth.
- Mouthwash
Top off your brushing and flossing hygiene routine by rinsing with mouthwash. It’s like the sugar free cherry on top for your mouth! Taking a swig and gargling with a mouth full of mouthwash or therapeutic rinse gives a final flush of any particles left in your mouth after brushing and flossing. It also kills bacteria. Mouthwash and rinses should always be thought of as an addition and not replacement to brushing or flossing.
Tips:
With Halloween coming up and in the spirit of National Dental Hygiene Month, we have to talk candy!
The sugar in candy is what is very damaging to the teeth. Candies like jolly ranchers, lollipops or gummy candies are acidic and sticky causing the sugar to stick to and damage your teeth. If you can have nuts, stick to a chocolate candy with peanuts. The peanuts’ texture can help break up the chocolate sticking on your teeth. Be sure to chew sugarfree gum if you’re a gum person!
Enjoy your Halloween and contact Beautiful Smiles to make an appointment for your 1 of 2 annual teeth cleanings after Halloween!
