It’s National Dentist Hygienist Month! October is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of maintaining good oral health. It is vital to brush your teeth every day, and also to get regular checkups and cleanings at the dentist’s office. 

Oral Health is a key part of your overall health, and the self-care you give your teeth and mouth. The American Dental Association believes there are four easy practices you can do that will help maintain good oral health: brush, floss, rinse and chew. These will all help with sustain that healthy smile! 

The proper brushing technique according to the ADA is to:

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
• Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

Also, don’t forget to brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, twice a day!

Flossing is a beneficial part of taking care of your gums and teeth. You don’t want plaque building up in between your teeth and turning into tartar. The American Dental Association suggests cleaning between your teeth at least once a day in order to successfully remove the plaque that can’t always be done by your toothbrush. 

Rinsing is another great way to remove unwanted biofilm and bacteria. Your teeth alone make up less than half of the mouth which is why brushing and flossing won’t always do the trick. Rinsing your mouth will decrease your chances of getting a dental infection or decay on your teeth. 

The last part of the routine might come to a surprise to you, but the ADA suggests that for 20 minutes following eating, chew on sugarless gum. This will help to increase the production of saliva which aids in washing away any of the leftover food in your mouth. Sugarless gum also help by neutralizing acids created by the bacteria in your mouth!

Don’t forget to take time to honor all of the hardworking dental hygienists out there that put in the effort to keep our teeth clean and making sure we have a great smile. Practice good dental hygiene. Set up an appointment with your dentist. Use #DentalHygieneMonth to post on social media to show your support!