Three Ways You Can Keep Your Mouth Healthy Between Visits To The Dentist

Everybody wants to have great teeth, but you can't go to the dentist every month in order to keep them pearly white and free of cavities. Nevertheless, there are many small things you can do to ensure that your teeth stay great in between visits to the dentist. Here are three ways to keep your teeth in good condition throughout your life:

Floss before you brush

Most people's tooth care routine is to floss after they brush. While flossing is always valuable, it's more valuable if it's done before you brush your teeth. When you floss first, you get rid of the buildup in between your teeth that stops your toothbrush and toothpaste from properly cleaning the surface of your teeth. 

Don't brush right after drinking a carbonated drink

While carbonation is naturally hard on your teeth, its effects can be compounded by brushing after drinking a soda or other carbonated beverage. The reason for this is because the residue from the drink includes tiny bubbles of carbonation. When the bristles from your toothbrush come in contact with these carbonated bubbles, it can damage the enamel on your teeth, paving the way for cavities down the road. If you do drink something carbonated before you brush your teeth, rinse your mouth out with some water before you brush to help mitigate the damage to your teeth.

Don't neglect your gums

While it's easy to think that the biggest problem your mouth will have is cavities, gingivitis and other gum diseases can be far more problematic. If your gums pull back from your teeth, you can often lose multiple teeth at the same time. The best way to stop this is to brush and floss along your gumline regularly. This will prevent food and other buildup from forming pockets of infection. 

Another issue that many people run into is calculus buildup on their teeth. Even if you have good mouth hygiene, your salivary glands can cause a calculus buildup on your front teeth that causes your gums to become inflamed and irritated. The best way to protect your gums is to use the same tool that your dentist uses. Buy a tooth scraper from a local store and use that to carefully clean the calculus buildup from your teeth. Once you have finished, brush your teeth as usual to finish cleaning out your mouth.

As you do these three things, your mouth will be healthier and look better than ever!