Good oral hygiene is important for good general health. We learn more and more every day about the negative affects poor dental care can have on every aspect of overall health and well being. For this reason, it is very important that you not only visit your dentist regularly, but also learn to take excellent care of your own teeth. In this article, we will discuss some good oral hygiene practices.

See your dentist at least once a year. A dentist can catch problems that you may not notice, and can x-ray your teeth to catch any cavities early. Your dentist can also recommend toothpastes and mouthwashes that you can use to care for your mouth while you are at home, too.

Eat what are known as detergent foods. These are foods that naturally clean your mouth as you eat them. Apples are the most famous example. Other choices include raw carrots, celery and popcorn. Ending a meal with a detergent food is a great way for your mouth to end the eating cleaner.

Invest in a good antibacterial rinse. Use is after you brush your teeth. If your teeth or gums are too sensitive, ask your dentist about alternatives such as Sensodyne or fluoride rinses. You should know that using an antibacterial product remains the best way to slow down gum disease and tooth decay.

If you ever run out of your regular brand of toothpaste and need a quick fix, experts say it's okay to mix baking soda and water to hold you over. The bubbly concoction is actually as good as most major brands of commercial toothpaste. Simply wet your brush and dab the bristles in the baking soda and voila, your teeth are clean!

Your diet plays a factor in the health of your teeth. You should make it a point to minimize the amount of soda and sweets you consume. These factors are a big cause of dental issues. Additionally, if discover this are important to you, then you might want to remove coffee from your morning routine. There is no way to get around the fact that coffee can stain the teeth yellow or brown.

It's just as essential to see to your tongue's health as it is your gums and teeth. To help protect your health you should use a tongue scraper when brushing your teeth. These low-cost dental items get rid of the harmful bacteria that is present on your tongue. If you don't have a scraper, clean your tongue with a toothbrush.

When choosing a dentist, don't forget to think about location. Do you work? Would it be more convenient to go to someone who is near your office? Or would you prefer to go to someone that is close to your house? If it is inconvenient to get to your dentist, you might not go, which is why it is important to consider this factor.

Limit the amount of carbonated beverages you consume. Soda pops are acidic. Your enamel can be destroyed and lose it's color due to this acid. If you still want to drink soda, there are a few precautions you can take. Always use a straw to drink sodas. Another thing to do is to immediately brush after rinsing with water.

If you visit a dentist for the first time, think about how the experience was after your appointment is over. It is never to late too switch if you were not comfortable. hop over to this site like how nice the staff was to you and how clean the office was should all be considered.

What you eat matters as much to your dental health as how frequently you brush or floss or visit the dentist. Eating a lot of sugar-laden foods will leave your mouth full of rot and cavities. Try to reduce the amount of sugar you eat, and also the sugar in your drinks.

Some common advice is to use lemon or vinegar to help your teeth get whitened. This is just a myth; these items are too acidic to be regularly applied to your teeth. You can damage your enamel and make the teeth much more susceptible to cavities and staining.

Get a dentist that you feel comfortable with. Check on the Internet to research the dentist, and check out their website if there is one available. Read about their education to ensure they will suit your needs. Make a list of any dentists that you feel are a good fit and then decide from there.

Milk is good for the teeth because it contains a lot of calcium, but you should make sure to brush after each glass. There are natural sugar in milk and they can lead to tooth decay. Also, drinking milk that is lower in fat will reduce the amount of sugar each glass contains, but it won't effect the calcium.

A dry mouth can cause major problems. It can also cause bad breath but the real danger is that if you don't have enough saliva then your mouth cannot neutralize acids or remove bits of food that is stuck in small places. You need saliva to help protect your teeth from decay.

Eat fruits and vegetables that give you crunch, like raw carrots or apples. The crunching motion cleans the surface of your teeth and can contribute to the prevention of plaque build-up. Take some carrots along to munch on after lunch for a quick cleaning. Your breath can be freshened at the same time.

To keep ants from coming into your children's bathroom, make sure that they put the lid back on the toothpaste tube after brushing. Many of the flavors that are added to children's toothpaste add sweetness, and the scent can attract ants. Putting the lid on keeps the ants far away.

If you have sensitive teeth and have already seen a doctor but still have the sensitivity, consider a toothpaste that helps to reduce sensitivity. There are a number of such products available in all different formulas to suit the needs of everyone. Your doctor can recommend one that is right for you.


Always thoroughly rinse your toothbrush after using it because the germs that you just removed from your mouth will be on the toothbrush. By rinsing it off, you will remove the germs and the remnants of old toothpaste which can build up. Follow up the rinse by tapping the toothbrush on the edge of the sink to shake excess water off of it.

Far too many individuals avoid seeking proper dental care due to mistaken beliefs about what common treatments entail. However, education on the topic can go a long way toward battling those misconceptions and paving the way to increased dental health. With any luck, the tips and information found above have helped provide the sort of insight needed.