Canadians evidently see the benefits of exhibiting good dental hygiene. One of the benefits is improving your smile. Although many take care of their teeth, they often fail to do so in the right way. Your oral health is a crucial part of how healthy you are in other aspects of life. Here are five crucial things you and your family can do to ensure dental hygiene:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day

This is a relatively well-known rule but often overlooked. Once you start reminding yourself to do it every day, a habit will form. The reason why so many doctors recommend and stress this as one of the first tips to patients lies in its importance: in preventing oral problems and diseases, such as cavities and oral cancer.

2. Floss at least once a day

This is another piece of advice you may well have heard of. Dentists give this advice especially to patients suffering from a prevalence of bacteria. Flossing offers a much more targeted approach to rid excess food from in between teeth. Although brushing your teeth removes bacteria and residue from the surfaces of your teeth, it is not as effective at addressing the crevices between your teeth. This is why flossing is very effective, especially when done directly after eating.

3. Brush all other areas of your mouth

This includes the gums, the tongue, and the roof of your mouth. Brushing your tongue, as well as the roof of your mouth, helps eliminate germs that cause bad breath. It is important to refrain from brushing these areas of the mouth, as well as the teeth, too harshly, which can lead to more harm than benefit (by removing beneficial protective tissue that protects from harmful bacterium).

4. Avoid acidic drinks

A lot of people, often under the age of 40, do not pay attention to how much soda and alcohol they regularly consume. This seems to be an excusable decision until you are left to face the negative effects. Too much of these substances can decrease the levels of calcium in your body, thus leading to an increased chance of developing tooth decay and/or gum disease.

5. Visit your dentist regularly

This is one of the most helpful pieces of advice to apply to your oral care routine, as not only can the dentist give you a routine cleaning of your teeth, but they can also provide you with standard checkups. This is very beneficial for predicting dental issues upfront, for both the near and far future.

To book an appointment for a dental emergency, call Oakville Place Dental today at (905) 842-6030 or contact us here.