Three Easy Dental Hygiene Tips

In today’s busy world, tasks like flossing are the first to drop off of our get-done-in-a-day list. We know good dental hygiene practices at home make for a better checkup and improved whole body health, but that doesn’t mean we have time for it! Your Spokane Dental team knows and understands what everyday life is like, and is here to offer three easy Dental Hygiene tips anyone can incorporate seamlessly into everyday life to improve their health in a cinch:

1. Don’t. Not. Brush!

Brushing twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, is recommended for optimal health. It is one of those habits that is ingrained in our daily lives, but is easy to miss. But we all know the problem with not brushing your teeth once is how easy it is to not brush the next time. Keeping a habit, even when we don’t feel like it, is a powerful way to remind our brain how important it is. Brushing your teeth only takes two minutes a day, twice a day, and because it is an already ingrained habit it won’t add another new to-do to your day. So keep it up! And “don’t not brush.”

2. Floss Outside The Box

There is a reason hygienists ask every time they see a patient how often they are flossing. It’s not because the hygienist can’t tell (they can!), it’s to emphasize the importance of flossing for maximum oral health. Brushing just cannot reach the bacteria between teeth, which is where cavities and oral disease form easily without proper cleaning. If flossing once a day just does not work for you, it’s time to floss outside the box! Some flossing “hacks” that work well with people seem to revolve around taking their minds off of the task. Try keeping flossers on the coffee table and using them when watching a show or scrolling on your phone. Some patients even keep them in their car and floss while stopped at traffic lights.

3. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking enough water is an easy way to keep your mouth healthy. Dry Mouth is one of the biggest risk factors for cavities and oral disease, and drinking enough water is a big help. If you are a coffee, tea, dark soda, or red wine drinker, drinking and swishing water when you finish your beverage is a great way to combat the nasty stain drinking dark beverages causes. Drinking enough water also helps combat bad breath, and is a great way to cleanse your mouth after a meal as well if you don’t have a toothbrush handy.

Taking care of your oral health can be as easy as 1-2-3 with these steps. But one of the biggest puzzle pieces to your best oral (and whole body!) health is a regular checkup. At every checkup your Spokane Dental Team performs oral cancer screenings along with checking your teeth and the periodontium, or your gums and bone surrounding your teeth. We make custom treatment plans for every patient and treat everyone with the care they need for their best health. Call today to schedule an appointment!