We all want stronger bones, younger skin, and of course, healthier teeth. But sometimes getting there can be hard, especially when there are things we can do that we don’t even realize. But when it comes to our oral health, there’s no need for mysteries. Here are some tried-and-true but lesser-known tooth care tricks you can do at home and make a real impact on your oral health! Be sure to share them with everyone you know!
Mouthwash First
Use your mouthwash before brushing and flossing to loosen up that plaque that’s clinging to your teeth. It will make your floss and your toothbrush’s job that much easier.
Floss Second
Yes, you heard right. Floss your teeth before you brush to get rid of debris and plaque between the teeth. This also prevents you from flossing away beneficial fluoride deposited on your teeth from your toothpaste.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling was a big trend several years ago, with devout pullers swearing by 20 minutes of swishing coconut oil to whiten teeth. Well, the concept of oil pulling isn’t wrong, but you definitely don’t need to swish for 20 minutes – three minutes will do. You also don’t need to use coconut oil, you can use sesame oil, too – or even water. But don’t expect this trick to remove set-in stains, it just whitens surface staining, which is still a good thing if you ask us!
Check the Ingredients
Make sure your toothpaste has fluoride. Many people assume that because they’re using toothpaste, it contains fluoride, to begin with, but this isn’t always the case, especially with the flood of new ‘designer’ toothpastes hitting stores everywhere these days. Fluoride protects your tooth enamel, keeping your teeth healthy and preventing cavities from forming.
Scrape Your Tongue
You may have heard of tongue scraping before, but haven’t tried it yet, and that’s okay! While not a necessary step in your oral health routine, tongue scraping can help eliminate a ton of that nasty cavity-causing bacteria that hangs out in your mouth. It also can help freshen your breath!
Interested in more oral health tips and tricks? Schedule your annual or bi-annual exam with Dr. Abelar for valuable oral health information, including an assessment of the health of your own teeth. To schedule your appointment, contact Dr. Abelar’s office today!
