Things You Can Do At Home To Keep Your Teeth Healthy

At Elleven Dental, we understand that you want a dental routine that can fit around you. It can be difficult to take heaps of time out of your day to look after your teeth. That’s not to say that looking after your teeth isn’t a priority. You just don’t know where to start when it comes to forming a dental routine that you can easily complete at home, in a way that suits you. Taking time out of your day to form a dental routine is important as our teeth play a critical role in our lives. If our teeth aren’t in good health, it can begin to impact how we see ourselves as well as our oral health. 

We’ve put together this guide on how to create the perfect at home dental routine, full of easy things you can do to keep your teeth healthy from the comfort of your own home.

 

Brush Your Teeth To Perfection

  • Always brush your teeth twice a day. In a recent study, it was determined that only 1 in 8 people were brushing their teeth twice a day during lockdown.
  • Brush once in the morning and once at night, to rid your mouth of any plaque or bacteria that has formed overnight and throughout the day. If you go to bed without brushing, you are neglecting to remove any plaque that has formed throughout the day, which can put you at risk of developing other oral issues such as gingivitis (early gum disease). 
  • Focusing on all areas of your mouth, brush for 2 minutes in total.
  • Brush all surfaces of your teeth – top to bottom, left to right. Try to cover as many areas as possible.
  • We recommend brushing with a fluoride toothpaste as this helps to prevent tooth decay and other oral issues with its strong barrier. 
  • Replace your old toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.

Never underestimate the power of brushing your teeth accurately. Although you may think you brush your teeth correctly, consider whether you are taking the full 2 minutes to do so, and whether you are brushing the whole of your mouth. 

 

Don’t Forget To Floss

Flossing can help prevent gum disease and help to protect your teeth and oral health. If you have never flossed before, you may be wondering where to start, but thankfully there are many tutorials online and on YouTube to show you how to do it accurately. Flossing helps to remove any extra plaque that you may miss when just brushing. If you miss plaque whilst brushing and don’t floss, it can turn into tartar (or calculus). The best part about flossing is that you can easily do it from the comfort of your own home.

When flossing for the first time, it can be normal to see a bit of bleeding while you get used to the change. Floss as gently as possible every time and if the bleeding persists for longer than a few weeks, see a dentist.

 

Add Mouthwash To Your Dental Routine

Mouthwash is easy to use and easy to fit into your at home dental routine. For most of us, a mouthwash with fluoride is most appropriate as it offers the most protection. Using mouthwash regularly can prevent bad breath, gingivitis, tooth decay and much more. Use mouthwash for 30 seconds, twice a day, and you’ll be protecting your teeth and oral health.

 

Looking After Your Health All Round

  • Avoid sugary drinks and snacks
  • Avoid smoking
  • Attend regular dentist check ups
  • Protect your teeth and wear a mouthguard whilst playing sports

Although making the above lifestyle changes can benefit your oral health, making these small choices a part of your day to day life can have a positive impact on your overall health too. Including these changes in your at home dental routine can protect your teeth, keep them healthy and make sure they shine bright. 

 

Elleven Dental

 

At Elleven Dental, we know that having a good at home dental routine means you’re less likely to face oral health issues later down the line. We are proud to encourage good oral health and hygiene, but taking care of your oral health doesn’t mean just visiting our clinic for a checkup. Preventative dentistry is just as important. Adding these tips and tricks to your at home dental routine means you are doing everything you can for optimum oral health.

If you’re experiencing any oral discomfort, visit us today. Get in touch with a member of our friendly team by calling 0207 487 2711 and we’ll help you smile confidently again.