Develop a Winning Oral Health Routine

The best way to improve your overall oral health is to develop a daily routine of brushing, flossing and rinsing. But creating routines isn't easy. But don't worry -- the dentists at Comprehensive Family Dentistry are here to help.

Establishing the routine. The hardest part about developing a winning oral health routine is establishing the routine in the first place. It's a challenge, but with a lot of focus, anyone can start a new habit. Try offering yourself a little reward after your nightly oral health routine -- an extra ten minutes of TV or video games, or throwing five bucks into a fund for a night out or a new toy. You should also log your progress in a notebook so that you can track how well you're doing. With this focus in place, you should be able to create a new routine in about two to four weeks.

Use a timer. Aside from a toothbrush and floss, a timer is perhaps your greatest weapon in the fight for great oral health. Setting the timer as a reminder establishes your brushing-and-flossing routine as something that happens at the same time every day, which will help firm it up as a routine. You can also use the timer to ensure that you spend enough time on brushing and flossing.

Brush. Along with flossing, brushing is the most important thing you can do for your teeth. Be sure to brush for at least one minute straight -- preferably two. Use the timer to make sure you're brushing long enough.

Floss. You don't need to time your flossing -- just keep flossing until the job is done. Sometimes, though, floss is difficult to work with; some folks just don't have the nimble fingers for the job. Fortunately, most drugstores carry flossers that can reach your back teeth.

Rinse. Not all of us have time to brush and floss after every meal, but it isn't too much effort to give your mouth a quick rinse with water. You'd be amazed at how much food you can dislodge from between your teeth with just a quick swish.

Mouthwash? Mouthwash isn't the most vital component of your oral health routine, but it does provide important benefits. Many brands of mouthwash have fluoride, which can help reduce cavities. And even if doesn't have fluoride, mouthwash can help prevent diseases of the gums.

Checkups. Regular dental checkups and cleanings can't be part of your daily oral health routine, of course. But a good dentist will send you reminders so you don't forget to schedule these appointments.

The dentists at Comprehensive Family Dentistry can give you even more advice on