5 Easy Tips For Better Oral Hygiene

When people are asked what they wish they had done differently in life, taking better care of their teeth and health is a surprisingly common answer. However, when asked what they do to care for their teeth, they have ambiguous ideas on what should be done. The following 5 tips will help you make small but significant changes to your oral hygiene habits and will make a profound difference in your teeth’s health and appearance.

 

1. Check your toothbrush

Firstly, look at your toothbrush and if it needs changing, get a new one there are plenty of eco-friendly options. It is recommended that you replace a manual toothbrush every three to four months, or whenever it appears to be getting worn out. In that amount of time, brush bristles become frayed and worn, which means they aren’t as effective at removing plaque as they used to be, and bacteria could start building up on the bristles.

 

2. Start with the teeth at the back

The shape and location of your molars make them more susceptible to trapped food, cavities, and gum disease. By starting at the back, this good habit reminds you to do a better job of caring for those hard-to-reach spots.

 

3. Use mouthwash daily

Brush and floss your teeth, then rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash to kill more oral bacteria and fight plaque. Swish vigorously for 30 seconds twice a day for optimal oral health. If you have a dry mouth or mouth ulcers, use an alcohol-free formulation.

 

4. Limit the time your teeth are exposed to sugary and sticky foods/drinks

Prolonged exposure to sugar in foods or drinks encourages bacterial growth in the mouth. This also happens when you consume small amounts throughout the day, whether it’s in foods or drinks. Foods and drinks that can cling to your teeth are major culprits, for example, hard candy and other sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks, milk, ice cream, honey, sugar in other forms, cake, cookies, dry cereal, and even chips. Bacteria feed on sugar, which creates plaque. Plaque acids dissolve our dental enamel and create cavities.

There are a number of ways you can choose from to manage this.

• Limiting our total sugar intake is one thing that helps and has many other good effects on overall health.
• When you eat or drink something sugary, starchy, clingy, or sticky, it’s better for your oral health to consume it quickly than over a drawn-out period of sipping, grazing, or keeping the food in your mouth.
• Be aware that some sodas are also very acidic, which compounds the problem.
• Drinking with a straw aimed at the back of your mouth is safer (there are eco-friendly straw options available).
• Some dentists say it’s better for you to brush your teeth before you consume items that can harm your teeth (because brushing teeth gets rid of some bacteria before you even start eating).
• Sips of water can help rinse the teeth during or after a meal.
• After a meal/drink, you can swish more thoroughly with water or mouthwash, or brush your teeth to make sure sugars, plaque and acids don’t stay on your teeth for long.

 

5. Use natural toothpaste

This is a safer approach to ensuring your oral health is well taken care of. Instead of using synthetic chemical components, natural ingredients such as mint herbs and propolis achieve results equivalent to any other commercial toothpaste – with fewer concerns.

 

At ecostore, our Complete Care Toothpaste, Propolis Toothpaste, Whitening Toothpaste, and Complete Care Mouthwash are designed to work together to effectively clean teeth, freshen breath and look after gums.
Our oral care range contains natural ingredients such as mint herbs and propolis to help ensure your oral health is well taken care of. Brush your teeth with toothpaste twice a day. We’ve left out SLS, triclosan, and parabens – so you can be sure you’re choosing a safer option for you and your family. Find out more about them today!