There are several oral hygiene basics that you should do every day, just to keep your teeth in good shape. It doesn't take long for these things to become a habit, and they really don't take that much time out of your day. Heck, I brush my teeth in the shower just to save time. You … don't have to do that, by the way, but you should remember to do the following oral hygiene basics every day – your smile will thank you!
This is the most basic of all the oral hygiene basics. It's very likely that ever since your first tooth popped up, your parents brushed your teeth. They encouraged you to do so on your own as soon as you were able. You need to keep up the habit! It used to be that dentists advised brushing three times a day, but that's not always possible. By all means, you should definitely do it if you can. If not, twice a day will do. I like doing it right when I get up and again before I go to bed, but I'll also brush in the middle of the day if my mouth starts tasting gross.
The amount of time you brush is important too. A few quick brushes won't do you any good. Try to brush for three minutes every time you do it. You can even set the timer on your phone if you're having trouble, or listen to a song that lasts about three minutes. If there are other things you can do with one hand during this time, go for it – it makes the time go by faster!
You don't need to floss each time you brush, but you do need to floss. Once a day is perfectly fine. I typically like to floss in the evening, after my last meal, because then you get rid of debris before going to sleep. When do you like to floss?
A good mouthwash is essential as well. It's also great between brushes, although you can feel free to do it before or after brushing. It's a great breath freshener, though, and gives you that wonderfully clean feeling. You should generally swish for about a minute, but make sure you're not using anything that's filled with a lot of alcohol.
Some people simply don't like to floss, or they want that feeling that get right after a dental cleaning. You might consider a water flosser, which gently but deeply cleans your teeth, especially the crevices between them. Even if you don't use this in place of flossing, you might consider trying it once or twice a week.
The things you eat and drink can play a huge role in your dental and oral health as well. By no means am I going to tell you to avoid coffee, red wine, or berries, but be mindful of the foods that stain your teeth. Be careful with acidic foods as well, and make sure you clean your teeth thoroughly after you eat them.
Drinking water is actually excellent for your teeth. You keep your mouth hydrated, which is hugely important. Moreover, water is so much better for your teeth than sugary drinks.
It's unfortunately all too easy to skip some of these, because they seem like they take up too much time. You're in a hurry, you tell yourself you'll do it later or tomorrow, and you just never get in the habit of it. Let's change that today! Do you follow any of these? Do you think you'll start?