You’ve got to be kidding me, Jenna.
Hear me out.
I hate going to the dentist, but I do it because I like my teeth in my mouth, and I also like it when people are willing to talk to me face to face without grimacing. But, I only go two times a year because I am not a glutton for punishment. So, what do I do in the in-between times? I learned this method from a dental hygienist friend, and I swear by it.
© lotus_studio / Dollar Photo Club
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Floss First: I think everyone knows you’re supposed to floss everyday, and like, three people do it. Whatever. I’m not a dentist. I don’t judge (stupid, judgy dentists…I kid). But, start by flossing to loosen everything up (yum!); it makes brushing everything out easier. And, if you have hardware in your mouth – I have a built in retainer – junior high forever! – try Superfloss. It has a nice threader on it to get those hard to reach places.
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Mouthwash Second: After flossing, you’re going to want to rinse out all of that gunk. What better way than to use mouthwash in lieu of water? I like Listerine Total Care Zero because I’m a big baby.
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Brush Third: I use an Oral-B Complete Action Power Toothbrush. That’s a…mouthful. ha. Right. And, don’t forget to scrub the roof of your mouth and your tongue. While you’re at it, run your toothbrush over your lips to exfoliate them. This will make them nice and smooth for applying lipstick.
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Tongue Scraper: This is so gross, so I’m not even going to talk about it. But, just buy one. Scrape your tongue regularly.
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Drink Water: I’m a terrible water drinker, so I had to come up with some tricks to force it down my throat. If you’re like me, check out my Dehydrated Girl’s Guide to Water. Having a hydrated mouth keeps the bacteria at bay, obvs.
Any tips I need to sink my teeth into?
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Wow. I am genuinely impressed by this. Also, it makes me feel like a complete toothbrushing idiot. Crazytown.
Okay I’m really glad you wrote this because the other day I was standing there trying to remember if I was supposed to floss before or after brushing. And logically before totally makes sense now that I think about it, but in my sometimes sleep deprived state it just wasn’t coming to me!
That flossing before brushing thing is a game changer. Yum indeed. :)
Great tips~ THANK YOU!!! Really really happy you shared, Jenna :)
Thanks for hosting! I love visiting every week and I’m happy to join in this time around!
God bless
~Chris
I made flossing part of my New Years resolutions last year and I definitely noticed that my teeth were starting to repair the slight damage to the enamel that was there. Thanks for the tips!
I have all of my wisdom teeth, so sometimes it is hard to reach them all with a regular sized brush. My dentist gave me this toothbrush with a teeny tiny little head the size of my pinky nail to get my back teeth. Probably a baby toothbrush would work, though. It is pretty addictive, because now my mouth feels really awful if I forget to do it.
I’m that person that makes dentists cringe. Because I break pretty much all the rules. I’m laughing at the tongue scraper comment but I could totally see that being useful.
When I saw the title I didn’t exactly say, “You’ve got to be kidding me, Jenna” but I did go “seriously?” haha. This is actually very useful and timely. I do floss every day but have left off using mouthwash for a long time. I’ve always used Listerine so I’m going to look for that Total Care one. I brush my gums and tongue too, but don’t own a scraper.
Janie’s comment was a good one regarding using a baby toothbrush for those hard to reach teeth. I have my wisdom teeth, too.
Also, remember to throw away your old toothbrush after 3 months or after a bout of sickness.
Drink more water hmm… I keep hearing this! ;)
I’ve read before that it is important to floss before you brush. That idea has made sense to me since I have heard it, so I’m happy that you chose to talk about it. After all, it makes sense to get rid of the all of the debris before you brush. If you don’t, your mouth will be full of gunks of food between your teeth. http://www.newjerseydentist.com/cosmetic-and-family-dentistry/
Thanks for your tips about how to improve your oral hygiene. I’ve seen commercials and videos for those tongue scrapers. I’ve used one before, but didn’t feel like it helped me. It could have been the kind of scraper I used, though. Maybe I’ll talk to my dentist and see if they recommend a certain kind of tongue scraper.
Conferences on medical related things is really a big deal.
Dental conference is a big thing. It allows people to learn and get educated. So are the professionals.
I agree that you should use a tongue scraper. I’ve found that some toothbrushes have good ones on the back. Actual tongue scrapers may work even better, though.
Dental health should begin in childhood as even babies are susceptible to cavities. Most children get their first tooth around 6 or 7 months of age and dental care should begin promptly thereafter with a visit to the dentist, as well as, regular tooth brushing.
I definitely agree. I didn’t realize that it was this young that dental care should be applied, but now that I know, I’ll definitely be prepared for my kids. Thanks for the reply!
Hi Jenna,
Very informative. Sometimes it is basic details that are the most important for dentists to elaborate on to help avoid complications!
http://www.hellenicdentalclinic.com/
All of us already brush our teeth regularly…Even though we have all been brought up brushing our teeth, it’s amazing how few people actually know the correct way to do it! Thanks for this .
As a dental practice, we can’t disagree with anything you’ve suggested here. Well done! (we just wish everyone was fastidious with their teeth and oral care!)
Thanks,
Faye
I will follow all the tips that you have posted here! Thanks!
It’s so weird to think of brushing last! I always brush, then floss, then rinse, but your method here makes sense. Maybe I should try flossing first to “loosen everything up”, as you said.
Thanks so much for sharing this. You would be surprised at the masses of people who have been brushing their teeth wrong for years!
I love your article about how to brush your teeth like a dental hygienist. I’ve never thought about using a tongue scraper before but I bet it would greatly reduce bad breath. It’s good to know that having a hydrated mouth keeps the bacteria at bay. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I think it is always great to find new and improved ways of doing what is usually a task that is done the same far too often!
So many people think you should floss after brushing but its actually more important before! It’s good to see this enforced here. Its hard to keep good hygiene habits. Thanks for sharing.
Really helpful stuff. I appreciate you and your work!
It is so hard to stick to a brushing routine that is this amazing (especially the flossing part), but it is so important. Thank you for this amazing brushing advice!
This is a great post! I find that many people actually didn’t know that they were suppose to floss before instead of after brushing! Thanks for sharing this!
Great Post!
Thank you so much for sharing this informative post.Use soft or extra-soft bristles. Brushing your teeth should not irritate your gums. All devices and their features for brushing teeth should protect teeth and gums, not uproot them.Brush your teeth with a new toothbrush or brush head every three to four months to cut oral bacteria buildup. Rinse your brush thoroughly after every use, store it upright and air dry. Teeth brushing continually with brushes stored in closed containers continually spread oral bacteria.
Great post!
Thank you for sharing informative post!
One should maintain a daily oral health routine in consultation with one’s dental hygienist. One’s oral routine may include the use of fluoride daily if one is under medication that dries up the mouth. In a similar manner, pregnant women with a condition, such as diabetes, may need specials daily care. Fluoride is great, not just for children, where it helps strengthen the developing teeth, but also for adults as it helps to prevent tooth decay. Dentists do prescribe toothpaste and mouthwashes that contain fluoride.Once again thank you so much for sharing.
Great post! A lot of people don’t think about scraping their tongue regularly, but it is definitely important. Thanks for sharing!
These are great tips! Oral care is pretty important and these are all great steps to have a healthy mouth! Thanks for sharing!
Huh… I never actually thought to do things in that order. Floss, mouthwash, brush. I will definitely try this. Also, thanks for reminding me that tongue scrapers exist. I’m gonna go buy one now :)
I never knew you should mouthwash first. Thanks for writing!
Dr. Charles Varipapa has been my family dentist for ages. He know that, when it comes to your dental health and smile aesthetics, you deserve nothing short of excellence. Visit his website http://www.oldtowndentist.com and book an appointment.
I think everyone knows you’re supposed to floss everyday, and like, three people do it. Whatever. I’m not a dentist. I don’t judge (stupid, judgy dentists…I kid). But, start by flossing to loosen everything up (yum!); it makes brushing everything out easier.
Wow thanks for this information! Super interesting! My dentist in Pasadena, Tx, Town Square Dental, has helped us so much when it comes to oral routine, but all the information helps!
Good things you are covered in the article. mostly all people know these things but we can’t care about these things, but it’s not good for us. Thank you for sharing.
This is a really great twist to regular brushing routine. Sounds fun and practical. Will surely give it a try. Thanks for sharing this!
Bad gums run in the family. I hate it. So after growing up, mentally, I am making an effort to floss every day, and maybe after every meal. So I been doing this for 2 months or so, and my dentist, Dr. Anna Kreymer praised me for my improvement; if you are in Los Angeles, California, 90025 zip code, just to be exact, give her a visit, its worth. Feeling good about myself, I asked her what else I can do for improvement, and she mentioned that changing my routine around to making it the first thing I do will bring better health. So I guess, that what I am about to do.
I hit a plateau in improving my dental health, mostly in whitening my teeth. After my recent visit with Compassion Smiles Dentistry, in Coppell, TX, I was recommended to drink more water, because I wasn’t drinking nowhere near enough to be healthy, but also to use an electric toothbrush. I am already seeing some results, hopefully soon my teeth will be perfect!
Seems like I’d been doing it all wrong by far!! 😞 But my dentist at Sinclair Smiles, Encinitas, CA did tell me about these points once or twice. But since now I have the written version of his tips, I’ll keep it handy!