Not everyone has dental coverage in their health plan and even the most routine procedures can cost hundreds of dollars at the dentist. To keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright make oral hygiene a priority and routine.

Brushing and flossing daily will prevent nearly all dental health problems. It only takes a few minutes and if you develop a routine oral hygiene will become a habit that you won’t want to give up. Developing this healthy habit will reduce the time and trips yo make to the dentist. Although regular checkups are recommended, a good routine will allow your visits to be short and sweet. Checkups help to keep you on track and your dentist is able to catch any problems before they become too large and too expensive.

Brushing

• Brush your teeth twice a day preferably after meals to remove food left behind.
• Brush every surface of your tooth.
• Make sure you brush for at least 60 seconds.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste no matter what your age.
• Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and brush in short back-and-forth motions.
• Do not apply too much pressure with your brush as it will irritate your gums.
• Remember to brush your tongue as well as all areas of your teeth.
• Replace your toothbrush when the bristles start to fray or every three to four months.

Flossing

• Use floss to clean the tight spaces in between teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.
• Break off 18 inches of good quality strong floss.
• Wrap the floss around your middle fingers leaving about 1 inch to use between teeth.
• Gently pull the floss between teeth in a back-and-forth motion to remove plaque.
• Unwind the floss after each tooth so that you’re using a fresh piece for each tooth.
• Floss at least once a day and make it a habit with either your morning or night-time brushing.

Along with good oral hygiene other factors contribute to a healthy or unhealthy smile. Diet is one of them. Choose a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables and avoid high sugar foods. Drinking water is not only low in calories and contains no sugar but is helps to wash acid producing food from the teeth and mouth. Sugar-free gum increases the flow of saliva in the mouth which helps neutralize the acid in turn protecting the enamel. Cheese and milk are also good for the teeth because they act like a buffer against acids to protect against erosion. Developing good oral hygiene habits now will keep your smile bright and save you money.