4 Useful Changes To Your Oral Care Routine

A good oral care routine is a necessary component of keeping your teeth healthy and reducing your risk of gum disease. Even if you have the best oral care routine, there are changes you can make to enhance the results.

Consider Rinsing And Flossing First

Using mouthwash and flossing before brushing can make your oral care routine more effective. Many mouthwashes have ingredients that are designed to help loosen plaque or lift surface staining. The act of flossing helps to loosen and remove plaque and food particles between the teeth and at the gum line. Start your oral care routine by vigorously rinsing your mouth with your favorite mouthwash, then proceed to flossing. Once you are finished, you can start brushing your teeth. For fresher breath, finish your oral care routine by rinsing again.

Use A Different Bedtime Mouthwash

Even if you do not have problems with dry mouth, mouthwashes that replace natural saliva enzymes and prevent dryness are beneficial to everyone. You can continue to use your favorite mouthwash in the morning, but choose a non-drying formulation before and after brushing at night. Saliva production is usually lower at night because many of the actions you do during the day, such as chewing gum or eating, enhance saliva production. Furthermore, if you happen to sleep with your mouth open, you may find you frequently wake up with a dry mouth. Changing your mouthwash, if only before bed, can combat the decrease in saliva while you sleep.

Try Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a popular natural remedy for removing toxins and may have many health benefits. Many people report that oil pulling gives them whiter teeth. If you are considering using over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to whiten your teeth, try oil pulling first, because it can be less damaging to your teeth and gums. Coconut oil is the oil of choice, and you may already have some in your kitchen. Only use pure, food-grade coconut oil, which you will find with other cooking oils in your local store. Take a teaspoon of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for 20 minutes. You want to avoid swallowing the oil.

Once the time has elapsed, you should dispose of your used oil in the trash, not the sink. To make the oil pulling process easier, you may want to find coconut oil that remains liquefied at room temperature or warm hardened coconut oil in the microwave for a few seconds. Ideally, you should perform oil pulling each day, but do it as often as you feel comfortable. Twenty minutes of rinsing with oil can feel tedious, so you may want to perform oil pulling while you are doing another activity, such as watching television or reading, to make the time go by faster.

Incorporate Natural Products

Integrating herbs into your oral care routine can have profound benefits, one such herb is licorice root. The herb should not be confused with licorice-flavored candy, which typically does not contain any real licorice. Licorice root has antibacterial properties that can help reduce tooth decay, gum disease and oral infections. If you want to incorporate more licorice root into your life, you can take the herb in a capsule or use the dried form.

You can steep the dried herb in hot water and consume it as a tea, or make a large quantity and keep it in the refrigerator to use as a mouth rinse. If the taste of licorice root is off-putting, look for premade herbal teas that contain licorice root combined with other herbs you might find enjoyable. Make sure to consider any potential interactions between licorice root and prescription or OTC medications before use.

What you do at home to care for your teeth and gums is equally important as regular dental visits. There is no perfect oral care routine, but you should periodically find ways to change your routine for maximum benefits. For more information, contact a local dentist like Kevin J Owoc.