5 Quick Ways to Improve Oral Hygiene

Bad breath or cavities can hurt your professional and social life. Here are 5 quick ways to improve your oral hygiene.

1. Floss properly. Flossing may seem like a hassle, but it goes a long way to improving your oral hygiene. If you don't floss right, you can easily get tartar and cavities between your teeth. Also, you get bacteria trapped between teeth that can cause bad breath. And no one wants that! So do your teeth a big favor and do a good job flossing.

This doesn't just mean sliding the floss between all your teeth. To floss properly, you must pull the floss to both the left and the right, hugging both teeth, to get the food particles trapped against each tooth.

Flossing properly will help you develop healthier gums, as they will not be in contact with food particles and bacteria. Don't be afraid to pull the floss a bit under the gum to clean the pocket against the tooth.

2. Drink lots of water. Who would have known that plain water could be an ally for good oral hygiene! Besides keeping your mouth clean, drinking lots of water will help keep your breath fresher.

The bacteria that causes bad breath is anaerobic (doesn't use oxygen), and water is full of oxygen. So, by keeping your mouth frequently flushed with clean water, you make it harder for these nasty sorts of bacteria to thrive.

Plus, drinking lots of water will make you healthier overall. Water aids digestion, keeps your kidneys healthy, and keeps your skin looking good.

3. Use a tongue scraper. A big cause of bad breath is the bacteria and food particles trapped on the tongue. Using a tongue scraper will physically remove a lot of this gross bacteria, making your breath instantly better.

Any local drug store will carry tongue scrapers, which are usually made of plastic. You can also use any small to medium sized spoon as a tongue scraper. Simple flip it upside down so the rounded bowl is on top and the concave side on the bottom.

Spoons make an effective tongue scraper and saves you the trouble of having to buy a tongue scraper. This is one thing you really should do to improve your oral hygiene.

4. Cut the soda. Sugary sodas are one of your teeth's worst enemies. The sugar and phosphoric acid both attack the enamel, weakening it and making you prone to cavities. Plus, those extra calories won't be friendly on your waistline!

If you want better oral hygiene, switch to sugar-free sodas for good, and your teeth and waist will both thank you. Or even better, get in the habit of drinking plain water.

5. Brush your teeth after every meal. The longer food particles are left clinging to your teeth, the more plaque and ultimately tartar forms on your teeth.

One of the simplest things you can do to obtain better oral hygiene is to keep a toothbrush nearby so you can brush your teeth after every meal. The sooner you brush, the healthier your teeth will be, and the fresher your breath too.