How To Build A Great Oral Hygiene Routine

By Rose Dental, Nashua, NH | April 28, 2021

Keeping a great oral hygiene routine is hugely important. Not only can a great smile make you feel more confident and ready to take on whatever life throws at you, but it’s also a preventative measure that can protect you against conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Like most good habits it’s about getting the basics right and performing them regularly – from brushing the right way to flossing regularly and finding a Nashua dentist you can trust for regular check-ups and treatment when necessary. So what are the building blocks that make a great oral healthcare routine?Brushing Your Teeth Well

You may brush your teeth regularly, but are you using the right technique to keep your mouth in optimal health?

  • Make sure you continue to brush for at least two minutes by setting a timer (many electric toothbrushes now come with an inbuilt timer function)
  • Spent at least thirty seconds on each quadrant of your mouth
  • Your brush should be held at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the tooth, inclined towards your gums.
  • Brush the fronts, backs, sides and chewing surfaces of your teeth
  • For best results, make sure you brush two or three times a day, but leave a little while after your meal before brushing

Flossing Every Day

  • Make sure you include flossing with a water jet, an interdental brush or dental floss part of your routine at least once a day
  • If using floss, you will need at least a 45cm length span to properly work it
  • Follow the natural curve of your teeth to avoid any damage to the gums
  • Make sure you include the back teeth as well as those in front

Cleaning Your Tongue

  • Use a toothbrush to carefully clean your tongue in circular motions, or use a dedicated tongue scraping tool to get rid of bacteria and dead cells. You can also use a length of dental floss to gently clean and scrape your tongue.
  • Rinse out your month after tongue scraping, brushing and flossing by swishing a good quality mouthwash around for 30 seconds afterwards and spitting out – do not follow with a water rinse as you want to keep the active ingredients working in your mouth for as long as possible

Signs Of Great Oral Hygiene

You also need to monitor your mouth, just like any other part of your body, for unexpected changes which might indicate a problem. What are the signs that you have good oral health?

  • You have regular appointments for check-ups with your dentist and hygienist
  • Your gums are pink, not sensitive and don’t bleed when you brush your teeth
  • The surface of your teeth feels clean when you touch it with your tongue and doesn’t have a fuzzy texture that indicates a build-up of plaque
  • Your breath doesn’t smell bad (lick your wrist and smell it for an indication)
  • You’re brushing three times a day, flossing once, cleaning your tongue and using mouthwash
  • You don’t have any unexplained pain in your teeth and jaw

Good oral health is simple but it just takes a few minutes every day and you’ll see the benefits for years to come.

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