October is Halloween season, which can be a pretty rough time for your oral health. With candy as ubiquitous as it is this time of year, it’s easy to wake up in November with more cavities than you did before the holidays.
However, that doesn’t have to be a sure thing. Coincidentally, October is also Dental Hygiene Month, which means that you can take this opportunity to actually improve your oral health. Here are a few tips you can keep in mind this October.
Keep Up Your Routine
Of course, the most important thing you can do to maintain good oral hygiene is to develop a daily routine and stick with it. At minimum, this should include brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using mouthwash to kill bacteria in the mouth.
If you struggle to stick with a dental hygiene routine, you might want to invest in a travel dental kit. This can make it a bit easier to brush and floss on the go, allowing you to keep your smile shining even when you’re in a hurry.
Pick Up a Tooth-Healthy Diet
Of course, the job of cleaning is considerably easier if you don’t make too much of a mess to begin with. Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria in the mouth, and these bacteria love to snack on sugary foods. You can also damage your teeth directly with acidic foods, like soda, that can dissolve the enamel on the tooth.
While indulging every once in a while is just fine, you should make an effort not to eat too many sweets. If you do, be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly afterward.
Make an Appointment for a Cleaning
Even if you’re diligent with your oral hygiene, there are some places in your mouth that you aren’t going to be able to reach on your own with floss or a toothbrush. Plaque can start to build up in these parts of the mouth and harden into tartar, at which point it becomes impossible to clean without special tools.
For that reason, it’s crucial that you see your dentist for cleanings at least twice a year. If you really want to get into the spirit of dental hygiene month (and maybe recover from all that Halloween candy), October is a great time to schedule one.
About Our Practice
At Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox, we do more than just treat teeth. We form partnerships with our patients based on integrity and trust to help them develop healthier smiles. We also believe that dentistry doesn’t have to be unpleasant, which is why we have endeavored to make every step of the oral healthcare process as easy and powerful as it can be.
If you have any questions about how best to maintain your dental hygiene, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (815) 462-9990.