3 Great Ways to Improve Oral Health

Keeping your mouth and teeth clean is a part of being healthy. Not taking care of your dental hygiene can leave you with an unsightly set of teeth, but it can also have a major impact on your health. From heart disease to breathing problems, oral health is critical to full-body care.

We all know to brush our teeth twice a day and even after every meal, but what else can you do to keep your smile shining? Read on for three handy and cheap methods that are easy to adapt to your daily routine.

The Type of Toothbrush Matters

We instinctively just buy any toothbrush to clean our teeth and gums, but with the wrong shape and size, you are harming your oral health. You need to look for a sturdy toothbrush with light bristles that move easily. You don’t need to brush your teeth with force, and with the correct bristles, you can get to hard-to-reach places. Electric toothbrushes are also gentle and ideal options because the brush isn’t too abrasive.

You also need a toothbrush that has an area you can use to scrub your tongue. Many people forget about the tongue, but it’s what controls the smell of your breath. Even with clean teeth, if your tongue is dirty, you’re still exposed to tons of different microorganisms. Another critical point is that you need to replace your toothbrush often. A maximum of three months is sufficient, but you should try to replace it every four to six weeks.

Change the Position of Your Tongue

Now, this might sound very unusual. Your tongue is in your mouth and that’s all there is to it. Not quite. Your tongue should ideally be placed against the roof of your mouth. This is the correct posture, and although it sounds odd, this affects your oral health. Your tongue is a muscle. The way you speak and even breathe is affected by the position of your tongue. Science has figured out that if your tongue is in the wrong position, that posture can cause your face to change shape. 

You need to actively work your tongue to keep it strong. By letting your tongue rest on the bottom of your mouth, you risk narrowing your palate. Over a long time, this causes your cheekbones and jaw to become weaker because your tongue isn’t giving your mouth the support it needs. By understanding tongue posture you can even correct sleep apnea and snoring problems.

Incorporate Mouthwash and Gum

Mouthwash is not just to give you fresh minty breath; it helps to get to any crevice in your mouth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Mouthwash is not something extra you do here and there. You should incorporate mouthwash into the teeth-brushing sessions. Look specifically for antibacterial mouthwash as these are formulated to attack specific bacteria and are approved by the ADA.

Chewing gum can help to keep your mouth clean throughout the day when you aren’t able to brush your teeth. Be sure to only chew sugar-free gum though, otherwise you can develop cavities. Gum helps to remove the amount of bacteria in your mouth to fight plaque build-up. It also stimulates your salivary glands so your mouth is being cleaned more naturally. Most sugar-free gums have calcium, iron, and phosphate which help to keep your enamel strong. Just remember that too much gum chewing can also be bad, so everything in moderation.

When it comes to your dental health, following these simple and easy steps to keep your mouth clean is the best way to stay healthy. Don’t neglect dentists visits though, and make these subtle changes to improve your oral health.