Hello all!
Today we’re chatting about oral health, and how to improve it!
Of course, going to the dentist regularly is a big way to improve oral health. But for those of us needing to forego the dentist, or for those currently going through long waiting periods for appointments, there are a few more ways make sure you’re keeping on top of your oral health.
Let’s get into it!
(NOTE: This post is sponsored by Colgate, who provided me with the product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by the company in any way. For more information, see my Affiliate Disclaimer.
1. Perfect your brushing technique
Let’s be real: you can brush your teeth all you like, but it’s not going to do any good if you’re not doing it the right way!
You’ve probably been told at least once in your life: brush in tiny little circles. And I’m going to tell you the same thing!
Even though many of us were told this as kids, it’s somehow more difficult to know what exactly constitutes “tiny little circles” and how to do it. Are you supposed to scrub in tiny little circles or do a more sensual massage in tiny little circles?
You might be surprised to hear it’s actually closer to the latter. You should be quite gentle when brushing your teeth, taking your time to brush in a circular motion at a 45 degree angle (I know, how are you supposed to tell??).
A key point to remember is to really take your time brushing. Electric toothbrushes have a handy-dandy timer for 2 minutes, often splitting the time up into four to remind you to spend enough time on all four quadrants of your mouth.
If you’ve ever used an electric toothbrush with a timer, you’ve probably had the realisation of just how long 2 minutes of teeth-brushing is. And so it’s more than understandable why electric brushes are fables to give a much deeper clean than a manual brush. In reality: it’s absolutely possible to get an effective clean using gentle motions with a manual brush, provided you do it for 2 minutes as well.
2. Choose the right brush
Believe it or not, all teeth are different and therefore have different needs! So it’s important to choose the right toothbrush for you.
First off: manual or electric?
Answer: it’s up to you!
Manual brushes are more than capable of providing an effective brushing, but electric toothbrushes are a great option for those with conditions that make manual brushing difficult (such as arthritis).
On the flip side, electric brushes are undeniably more eco-friendly than manual toothbrushes, which need to be replaced every few months. So it really does depend on your preferences and what you need.
Personally, I’ve always preferred manual toothbrushes. All electric brushes I’ve used have just been too much for my mouth, either in terms of being too rough on my gums or making my teeth ache. I’ve also somehow perfected my brushing technique, earning myself praise from my dentist, so I can get by without an electric brush.
So what brush do I need?
Many toothbrush brands come in multiple bristle types, usually soft, medium, and hard. Generally speaking, dentists recommend not opting for hard bristles (also called firm bristles), as these can damage your teeth and gums.
As a general rule, most people will be fine with medium bristles, but those with sensitive teeth or gums should instead reach for soft or extra-soft bristles. Believe it or not, harder bristles don’t equal a better clean! Plaque is quite soft and doesn’t need a lot of scrubbing to remove, and you really want to avoid removing the tooth’s enamel.
Is that all?
Not yet!
Along with bristle type, you can really up your oral health game by choosing a toothbrush with extra features. Features, you say? Yes, features such as tongue and cheek cleaners!
As well as cleaning your teeth, it’s equally important to clean the rest of your mouth. Bacteria, dead skin cells, and food particles can get trapped on the tongue and cause bad breath or halitosis. Furthermore, bacteria on the tongue can get deposited back onto the teeth after brushing them, increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup. By choosing a toothbrush with a tongue cleaner, you can really up your oral health game and banish that bacteria!
Any suggestions?
At the moment, I’m using the Colgate 360 Black charcoal toothbrush.
As the name suggests, the bristles are infused with charcoal, which is thought to absorb plaque and whiten teeth. Speaking of bristles, these ones are tapered into a very fine point, which really gets between the teeth and below the gumline for a real good clean.
And my favourite part: this brush comes with a tongue and cheek cleaner. Personally, I’ve never figured out how to clean my cheeks…but I’ve discovered that I absolutely adore cleaning my tongue. Which isn’t a weird thing to type at all.
*This product was gifted by Colgate, but all views are my own*
3. Visit the dentist!
I know, I know. I wish I didn’t have to say this either, but we’re made to go to the dentist as children for a reason! It may seem like a rip-off when you visit the dentist, go through the anxiety, and pay the bill only to find out that your teeth were perfectly fine all along…
But be honest, unless something in your mouth actually hurts, would you know if there was something up with your teeth?
It’s far better to be on top of your oral health, to have a professional notice the warning signs, before there becomes a real issue.
Do I currently feel like a scathing mother? Yes. Is that because I’m actually trying to reason with myself that visiting the dentist is worth the crippling anxiety? For sure.
Of course, there are a lot of people currently unable to go to the dentist or having to wait a long time to be seen (we all know why…). Unfortunately, I can’t see Zoom dental appointments working so well, so what do we do?
It won’t be as good as the real thing, but many supermarkets and drugstores (and Amazon, of course!) sell dental sets, which include some do-it-yourself answers to dental tools like dental scalers and tiny mirrors. Naturally, you need to be careful when using these tools, and it’s no long-term replacement for a professional dentist, but it might be a good option in times of global crisis!
4. Floss!
I’ve always been in two minds about flossing. On the one hand, it’s good for my oral health. On the other hand, I can’t be bothered.
Just kidding (sorta).
On the one hand, it’s good for my oral health. On the other hand, it’s finicky and causes even more waste. But the fact remains: it’s good for your oral health!
I’ve found that flossing with traditional floss (you know, the one that’s just straight-up string) is incredibly tedious and hurts my fingers. Thankfully, there are disposable flossing picks that are far more preferable for when I get a popcorn kernel stuck in my teeth.
But again, it’s a lot of waste! So I’ve dug up some eco friendly flossing tools so that we may floss in peace. We’ve got: compostable floss picks, biodegradable floss, and bamboo interdental brushes.
5. Get your teeth cleaned regularly
This one really goes hand-in-hand with regular dentist visits. Nothing really beats a professional cleaning. I’ll admit that it’s pretty undesirable and uncomfortable, but it’s a great way to ensure that you’re keeping on top of your oral hygiene.
Hopefully, if you’ve followed the above tips for improving your oral health, a hygienist won’t have much to do in your perfect mouth. But on the off-chance that you’ve still got some buildup, a regular professional clean will give you that extra bit of confidence that your mouth is as clean and healthy as can be.
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