With the pandemic still foremost in people’s minds, it can be easy to forget about what seem like small matters, such as keeping up your oral hygiene routines.
But healthy dental habits can have a big impact on your overall health and strengthen your body’s line of defense against infections of all kinds.
Here’s what we recommend in terms of maintaining healthy dental habits both during the pandemic and throughout your life.
3 Important Habits That Protect Your Dental Health
1) Brush and floss twice a day
This is the dental hygiene gospel that we’ve all heard preached since childhood. And for good reason—it works! Your mouth is home to tons of bacteria, and a daily regimen of brushing and flossing helps keep them in check. Brush for at least two minutes, and consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush if you’re not already using one. They do a much better job of removing plaque and preventing gingivitis.
2) Change your toothbrush regularly
Every three months is the recommended time frame for replacing your toothbrush. If you wait longer than that, you increase your risk of spreading infection, since bacteria and other microbes can collect on your toothbrush over time. Also, it’s important to replace your toothbrush immediately after you’ve been sick.
3) Choose water over sugary drinks
Water is the original health drink and it should be your beverage of choice as often as possible. Not only does water help wash particles off the surfaces of your teeth, but it also keeps your digestive system in good shape. Plus, the more water you drink, the less room there is your daily diet to have sugary drinks, which are more harmful to your dental health than you may realize. Soda, fruit juices, sports drinks, and other beverages with a high sugar content are fuel for the bacteria in your mouth to grow and potentially cause oral health problems.
We Can Help
The dedicated team at CITIDental Boston and our dentist is your partner in helping you achieve and maintain great oral health. If you have any concerns about your dental health, we can help.