We’ve all sat in the dentist chair at some point and felt slightly embarrassed to answer the questions around “how many times a day do you brush your teeth?” and “do you floss?”. Don’t worry, you’re not being judged. It is simply the dentist’s number one priority to ensure you’re looking after your teeth outside of the clinic.
Good oral health is so important because the mouth is a window into the health of our body. Each organ in your body influences the others, so issues in different areas of the body can create a much wider impact.
Did you know that unhealthy gums can affect your health in many ways? While a cavity may not affect you too much, gum disease has the potential to impact other areas of your body, like your heart, lungs, and other major organs, as well as potential digestion issues. So in dental terms, your dental health can affect your overall health.
The good news is, establishing and maintaining proper oral hygiene will help prevent issues from arising. So, how exactly do you do that? Good question, read on to find out.
Rinsing
Try rinsing your teeth with water directly after eating. This will help rinse off the bacteria in your mouth that produces acid that can temporarily weaken your enamel.
You don't need to think too hard on this one, a quick rinse with water will boost your body's ability to clean itself and remove any food or sugar that's leftover. Of course it doesn't remove it all, but that's why we brush and floss too.
A quick note on mouth wash — A common misperception people think they can get away with is, substituting mouthwash for brushing and flossing. Mouthwash is not a substitute! It helps to freshen your breath, but it won't protect your teeth from cavities and gum disease they way a toothpaste and floss do.
Brushing
Make sure to brush those pearly whites in circular motions twice daily for two solid minutes!
We recommend using Grin Natural Strengthening Toothpaste when brushing your teeth. This vegan, all-natural toothpaste works to fight bacteria, remineralise your teeth while leaving the mouth fresh. One of the hero ingredients is called ‘Hydroxyapatite’ - a mineral that makes up between 90 - 95% of our tooth enamel and has been proven to strengthen and protect your teeth and is recognised as an alternative to fluoride.
Grin toothpaste is also the only Orangutan Alliance certified Palm Oil free brand in Australia.
Flossing
Flossing is imperative in preventing gum issues (which can affect our overall health). If you're not flossing, you may be missing up to 40% of the plaque on your teeth, which is why brushing your teeth alone is not enough! Over time, this plaque and bacteria build-up can harden into tartar, and if left untreated, can lead to receding gums, tooth decay and tooth loss.
TIP: Floss before brushing so that the toothpaste can reach and coate all your teeth’s surface.
Luckily, Grin Natural makes it easy to take care of your teeth and gums with the Grin Adults Biodegradable Dental Floss Picks. You should be aiming to floss at least once a day.
Tips For Oral Care
Along with these three great oral care routine steps, it is also vital to ensure you are;
- Replacing your toothbrush once every three months, when the bristles are starting to fray or after you’ve had a cold or flu.
- Eating a healthy diet with limited amounts of added sugars to reduce the risk of developing tooth decay.
- Scheduling regular dental check-ups and cleanings.
This may sound hard, we know that most people only do step 2 and think brushing twice daily is enough. A recent study, designed to determine how many people floss their teeth found that only 30 per cent of the Australian population floss daily.
Dental Care
Wherever you may be up to in your dental care routine, you can follow these easy tips to help set goals for your oral care to minimise bigger dental, and potentially overall health issues down the line;
- Set small goals and increase them over time to avoid overwhelming yourself.
- Make sure your goal is achievable and involves a plan rather than using an overarching statement. For example: Instead of saying, “I need to start flossing”, try saying, “I will start flossing every other day”.
- Keep track of your progress. Are you meeting your goal? If yes, keep going and maybe set a new goal. If not, reassess your plan and pinpoint the challenges.
To support a healthy oral care routine, it is important to use products that are safe, effective and eco-friendly. We love Grin Natural, an eco-friendly, all-natural oral care brand that offers products for the entire family and uses ingredients made by nature, all packaged eco-friendly materials.
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