October Is National Dental Hygiene Month

When you think about your favorite month, which one comes to mind? For a number of individuals, it’s October. The cool temperatures bring relief from the hot summer, and Halloween is always a fun time to dress up with friends. However, the dental community loves October as well, but not because the increase in candy consumption means that more people need their services! Instead, they like it because it’s National Dental Hygiene Month.

As you can guess from the name, National Dental Hygiene Month is all about teaching individuals about the importance of good dental hygiene. During this time, dentists share all of their tips on how you can greatly improve your dental hygiene at home. That said, the month is also about showing your appreciation for all of the dental hygienists who work so hard to keep your teeth looking good.

Of course, no matter how well you take care of your teeth at home, you still have to visit your Northern New Jersey dentist from time to time. It’s best to schedule an appointment with your dentist at least two times a year. This way, the staff can catch any warning signs before they turn into bigger problems.

Improve Your Oral Health With These Tips

Are you doing everything that you can to keep up your oral health? Even if you think that you have a good oral hygiene routine, there might be things that you can do to improve it further.

The fact remains that tooth decay and gum disease are on the rise in the United States. Dentists believe that these dental health problems can be corrected if people do more to improve their oral health routine. Here are a few ways that you can do just that.

Brushing Twice a Day

The first step is simple and one that you might already be doing: brush your teeth twice a day. The best times to brush are in the morning and again at night. If possible, you should brush after every meal. At the very least, though, you need to do it twice daily.

When you brush, make sure that you’re spending time cleaning every area of your mouth. The best way to do this is to give yourself a two-minute time limit. If you’re having trouble keeping track of the time, consider a toothbrush that does it for you. Most electric toothbrushes have built in timers for this very reason.

Flossing Daily

While you might be brushing your teeth every day, you might not be flossing each day. In the grand scheme of things, few people floss as much as they need to. It’s important to floss because it removes plaque from between your teeth. Brushing simply can’t get to the areas between your teeth.

When you go to floss, you might wonder if you should be using string floss or a water flosser. Honestly, they are both good methods of removing plaque and food particles from between your teeth. Thus, it doesn’t really matter which one you use just as long as you’re flossing your teeth.

Swishing Mouth Rinses

Do you want to take your dental routine to the next level? If so, the best way to do that is by working mouth rinses into your oral hygiene routine. Mouth rinses are great because they can aid your mouth in a number of ways. Also, they’re fairly inexpensive, so you can work them into your routine without breaking the bank. Let’s discuss two rinses that you should start using right away.

The first is mouthwash. Along with being great for freshening your breath, mouthwash is good at promoting healthy gums. It works by killing germs and bacteria that live in your mouth. This bacteria not only causes bad breath but also damages your gums. The best time to use mouthwash is in the morning.

The next rinse that you should be using is some kind of fluoride rinse. There are a number out there, but basically, fluoride rinses strengthen your teeth. They do this by strengthening the enamel, which gets weak from eating and drinking. In case you didn’t know, fluoride is a natural mineral. Try using it at night so that it has longer to sit on your teeth before you eat or drink anything.

Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

It’s true that a lot of people are unable to brush their teeth after each meal. The reason might be because they’re busy, or they don’t have their toothbrushes with them. Regardless, gum is a great way to break down the food particles that get stuck on your teeth after eating.

When you chew on gum, it helps your teeth in a number of ways. The first way is by removing food particles that get stuck in your mouth. The second way is by stimulating saliva production.

Saliva helps your teeth. One way is that it cleans away the food particles in your mouth. Another way is that, much like fluoride, saliva contains minerals that strengthen your teeth. Thus, saliva production is a good thing. That’s also the reason why people who suffer from dry mouth typically have weaker teeth.

Just make sure that when you chew gum, you chew sugar-free gum. If you chew on sugary gum, you’re actually giving bacteria more food to feed on. That will increase the amount of bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth, which is the opposite effect that you want.

Come See Us for Your Next Dental Exam

You now know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month. What better way to celebrate this joyous time than with a dental checkup? If you’re looking for a dentist in Northern New Jersey to provide cleanings and oral exams, give us a call.

Our friendly staff members are waiting to help you. Just reach out to us today, and we can help you set up your next appointment.