Take Your At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine To The Next Level With Tips From Our Saint Louis Dentist

Written by Dr. Grayem on Jun 8, 2021

Let’s say that you’re already brushing your teeth and flossing your smile as recommended by the American Dental Association—that’s great! Now what?

The truth is that there are a number of simple things that you can do in order to optimize your daily at-home oral hygiene routine. Our Saint Louis dentists are here with some suggestions that can help you take your oral hygiene routine to the next level. Let’s get started!

The first thing to do is to take a moment to assess the dental tools you’re using. Does your toothbrush have the right kind of bristles? Medium and hard-bristled toothbrushes are actually too abrasive for many patients. Does your floss fit between all of your teeth? You don’t want to use a floss that is too thick for your dental alignment, as this will actually decrease its usefulness. If you aren’t sure whether you’re using the right tools, talk to your dental team!

Next, make sure that you’re completing your oral hygiene steps in an order that makes sense. In general, it makes the most sense to floss your smile first, in order to dislodge any dental debris or plaque. Then, brush your teeth to buff away oral bacteria. The final step of your at-home oral hygiene routine can be mouthwash—this helps to rinse away any bits of plaque and debris that may be hanging on and to clean your oral tissues.

Finally, consider adding some simple “smile refreshers” into your middle-of-the-day routine. A simple smile refresher is to vigorously rinse your smile with water after lunch or eating a snack. This quick habit dislodges food particles from your smile and prompts your body to release saliva (which naturally helps to neutralize bacteria and re-mineralize teeth).

Want to learn more about how to care for your smile day to day? Our Saint Louis dentists are here to help—give us a call!