When discussing habits to maintain good oral hygiene, the two most common regimens are brushing and flossing on a daily basis. While these are the two most important steps in sustaining a lifelong healthy mouth, there are a few more steps that you could introduce to your own and your family’s dental routines that provide additional perks. The Tree City Family Dental team wants to ensure that our patients have all the information they need to have a healthy mouth. Below, we have listed a few extra steps you can add to your dental routine in order to maintain stellar oral care.
Mouthwash
There are two different types of mouthwash that are commonly found:
- Therapeutic – this has active ingredients to decrease bacteria growth, gingivitis, and bad breath
- Cosmetic – this type leave behind a nice flavor after rinsing, but has no long-term benefit for the patient
Fluoride is a crucial ingredient to prevent tooth decay, so adding a therapeutic mouthwash with this ingredient into your daily routine will be very beneficial for you and your family. When shopping for a mouthwash, look for active ingredients such as peroxide, essential oils, and fluoride to ensure you are using a therapeutic mouthwash that will have long-term positive effects. Please check with your family dentist if your child is under the age of six before adding mouthwash into their routine.
Tongue Scraping
Another less heard of hygiene hack is tongue scraping. Now, this may sound a little odd at first but this can have many benefits for your overall dental health. Your tongue harbors a variety of bacteria that accumulates over time. While most of these are good bacterias, there are bad bacterias that can wreak havoc in your mouth and cause bad breath. It is common when brushing your teeth and your children’s teeth to use the toothbrush to also brush the tongue. Although this removes some of the bacteria, using a tongue scraper is a more effective way to remove bacteria and potentially resolve any unwanted bad breath problems.
Teeth Whitening
Having a bright, white smile is something that many people desire. At Tree City Family Dental, you can achieve this dream safely and effectively. Many over the counter teeth whitening products can cause irreversible damage to your tooth enamel and gums, causing more harm than good. Your family dentist will take the necessary safety precautions to ensure your teeth stay healthy while you achieve a radiant smile. Teeth whitening can remove stains from foods and beverages, illnesses, aging, and smoking to give you more confidence in your smile.
An effective and consistent dental hygiene routine is the best way to keep your mouth healthy throughout your whole life. If you are wondering if these extra steps should be added to your family’s dental regimens, contact Tree City Family Dental to ask any questions and schedule a visit today!