October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and although the month is nearly over, it is never too late to reevaluate your dental hygiene habits.
Most people do not have the time or energy to spend a long time on their dental hygiene in the mornings. However, you can always make up for it at night, before you go to sleep. Here are 5 ways you can kick your nighttime dental routine up a notch to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
Tips to Create the Ideal Nighttime Dental Routine
1: Brush Your Teeth Before Bed
Brushing your teeth before bed is essential, as it removes all the potential harmful bacteria and food debris from your teeth to prevent the bacteria from creating plaque buildup in your sleep.
2: Use the Right Tools
An electric toothbrush can more efficiently remove stubborn food debris or plaque that is in hard to reach places. The rotating and oscillating movements of an electric brush makes your job of brushing your teeth easier and protects you from cavities, making it a good dental health investment.
3: Don’t miss a Spot!
Be aware when brushing your teeth to brush the outer tooth surfaces first, using gentle, short, back and forth strokes. Then, move towards the inner or back of the teeth, using the tip of the brush to gently stroke up and down.
4: Get to Flossing
At night you have more time to spend on your dental hygiene, and the best way to ensure your teeth are clean is to floss. There are many videos that can show you what technique to use to correctly floss in between your teeth. At first, flossing might be awkward or hurt a little, but you and your teeth will soon get accustomed to the new hygiene routine. If plaque buildup is allowed to harden between your teeth, the plaque becomes tartar, which can only be removed by a hygienist or dentist during a professional cleaning. Tartar creates a great place for bacteria to release acids that eat away at tooth enamel and create cavities.
Tip 5: Rinse and Spit
Ending off your nighttime dental hygiene routine by rinsing with a good mouthwash can strengthen your teeth and combat plaque and cavities to ensure your gums are safe from gingivitis (an early form of gum disease).
Adding these few extra steps to your nightly routine can make a difference to your health, breath and confidence in your smile. With a good daily hygiene routine and regular check ups with your dentist, you should never have to worry about developing dental issues.
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