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Here at Point 6, working with esteemed dental healthcare brand Wisdom made us re-think our cleaning habits. We already know that brushing your teeth is an accepted part of everyone's day - performed on sleepy autopilot first thing in the morning and again the last thing at night. But looking after your oral hygiene shouldn't stop there. The following easy tips will see you on your way to a happier and healthier mouth.
1. Floss
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Okay, hands up – who flosses every day? Although it's an important part of oral health, most of us are guilty of giving it a miss from time to time. But, if you want to prevent gum disease and look after your dental hygiene, it pays to devote a few minutes each day to flossing. Using a gentle 'sawing' motion to get into your gums and remove any build-up of plaque is key to ensuring the longevity of your teeth.
2. Discover interdental brushes
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Interdental brushes are a lesser-known – but important – in addition to your dental routine. A small but perfectly formed micro-fine brush glides in between teeth, removing any nasties and preventing the development of gum disease. Not sure where to start? Wisdom's Clean Between Rubber Interdental Brushes have been named the UK's number one, and come in three different sizes, making them ideal for first-timers.
3. Visit your dentist
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No one likes going to the dentist (and if you do – what's wrong with you?). But the longer you leave it between check-ups, the more likely problems are to develop. To avoid pesky cavities and monitor the health of your gums, be sure to book in at least once a year - and while you're at it, visit the hygienist for a full scale and polish. Just be sure to mentally prepare yourself for the sound of the tools scraping against your teeth (yuck!).
4. Adjust your diet
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Recent findings suggest sugar should be treated as the new smoking. Whether you think that's true is down to you, but what's certain is that sugar has a detrimental effect on your physical health. It also damages the enamel of your teeth and inflames your gums, causing decay and gum disease. What's more, it takes up to one hour for your mouth to cancel out the acid produced every time you enjoy a glass of ice-cold lemonade or snack on a bag of pick 'n' mix. Aside from avoiding fizzy drinks and sugary foods such as sweets, chocolates, and donuts (basically all the yummy stuff), drinking water after eating and chewing sugar-free gum after snacking can help to cancel out the damaging acid. Phew.
5. Natural whitening
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Although not an essential part of your routine, having sparkly whites is a sure-fire confidence boost. If you don't want to fork out for pricey teeth whitening at the dentist, you could try one of the following natural at-home methods:
- Brush your teeth with baking soda to reduce bacteria and buff away stains.
- Rinse out your mouth with apple cider vinegar (just make sure you dilute it with water first).
- Try a touch of hydrogen peroxide: as a natural bleaching agent, a small amount can be mixed with baking soda to form a whitening toothpaste.
