5 Tips to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene for the Family

Proper oral hygiene is important for people to protect and preserve their teeth. Oftentimes, people suffer from toothaches and cavities that are fueled by bad habits. In order to avoid the painful experiences of root canals or the embarrassment due to missing or discolored teeth, consider some of the best practices to cultivate within your household.

1. Provide the Right Tools

Oral hygiene involves the use of the right tools. It’s not just about having the right toothbrush. You also need to replace those toothbrushes or toothbrush heads every three to four months. In addition to using good toothbrushes, dental floss and tongue scrapers are essential tools to include. Dental floss gets the bacteria and food particles that get lodged in between the teeth. Unwaxed dental floss is known to do a more thorough job. Tongue scrapers help to slough off the bacteria that collects on the tongue. Using a tongue scraper helps a person to maintain healthy, fresh breath as well.

2. Schedule Routine Dental Visits

Teach your family that the dentist is akin to a family friend. Regular visits to the dental office for cleanings will lead to optimal dental health. By getting your children to the dentist when they’re young, they’re more likely to become used to the process. A visit to the dentist can be understandably intimidating. This is why it’s wise to find the best dentist in Cary, NC that can move from your mouth to your children with ease and a great bedside manner.

3. Keep Candy and Excess Sugar Out

As more studies continue to emerge about the damaging effects of sugar, there’s no secret that sugar is bad for dental hygiene. While candy is nice to enjoy on occasion, sugar is really bad to consume on a consistent basis. To eliminate the temptation, don’t even keep it in your home. To satiate a sweet tooth, indulge in healthy sources of sugar such as fruit. Make smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and sugar-free desserts for everyone to enjoy after dinner. By adjusting the palate to avoid sugar, no one will really crave or miss it.

4. Floss Consistently

In addition to brushing twice a day, it’s just as important to floss consistently. By flossing on a consistent basis, you get to pay close attention to what your teeth and gums look like. It’s easy to rush through the tooth-brushing process and miss any dental concerns. By the time the concerns arise, you’re actually feeling the pain or sensitivity. If you’re flossing on a consistent basis, you’ll be able to see if tarter or plaque is starting to form on certain teeth before it gets worse. If your small children struggle with flossing, you can do it for them. Gradually teach them to do it on their own. Dental floss picks can also be helpful tools for children who struggle to maneuver the teeth in the back as well.

5. Avoid Smoking and Tobacco

While many people believe that smoking is cool and trendy, it’s actually detrimental to overall health. Even though pictures can portray the damage smoking and tobacco cause on the lungs and other organs, most people don’t care until it’s too late. If you or someone in your family likes to smoke, encourage them to stop as soon as possible. Smoking is directly connected to gum disease as it breaks down the tissue that surrounds the gums.

As one of the heads of your household, it’s so important for you to lead by example. If your children see you brushing and flossing your teeth, they’re more likely to want to be just like you. By doing your part to help your family maintain healthy teeth, it’ll be much easier to recover or rebound from any potential mishaps or incidents that occur in the future.