{"id":13896,"date":"2020-10-11T18:43:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T18:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/?p=13896"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:39:05","slug":"oral-hygiene-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/2020\/10\/11\/oral-hygiene-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for a Healthy Smile During National Dental Hygiene Month!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/AdobeStock_276138837_2___1603219292_61700-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Man brushing his teeth using oral hygiene tips\" class=\"wp-image-13897\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/AdobeStock_276138837_2___1603219292_61700-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/AdobeStock_276138837_2___1603219292_61700-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/AdobeStock_276138837_2___1603219292_61700.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>October is known for Fall weather, and of course, Halloween! However, this time of the year also marks National Dental Hygiene Month\u2014a reminder for the importance of the health of your entire mouth. That\u2019s why your dentist has included some easy yet effective oral hygiene tips! Read on to learn how to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month the right way by practicing great at-home oral healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1. Brush Properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may know to brush twice a day, but are you using your toothbrush properly? Be sure that you\u2019re brushing for two minutes each session, cleaning each side of your smile. Angle the brush at 45-degrees for the most thorough cleaning, paying close attention to your gumline, where plaque and bacteria can often collect. Think of brushing as massaging your teeth rather than scrubbing them. Remember\u2014your enamel can\u2019t grow back, so you must be gentle and protect it the best you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2. Don\u2019t Forget to Floss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brushing often gets the spotlight when it comes to your oral healthcare, but flossing is just as important! If you think about it, each tooth has 5 sides: the front, back, top, left side, and right side. Without flossing, you\u2019re leaving 2 sides of each tooth susceptible to decay and cavities. Plus, flossing lifts food debris and bacteria from off of your gums, decreasing your risk of periodontal disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3. Try Mouthwash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A great way to pick up the slack of your at-home routine is to use mouthwash. Brushing and flossing are irreplaceable when it comes to your oral health, however there are parts of the mouth they simply can\u2019t clean. Using a mouthwash can reach these areas while also giving you fresh breath. Just be sure to choose a nonalcoholic mouthwash because alcohol decreases saliva flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4. Drink Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Water is incredibly beneficial when it comes to your overall health, but it can also help with your oral hygiene. Drinking water with every meal will help wash away plaque and food debris in between your brushing and flossing. Additionally, most water contains fluoride, which is a natural mineral that fights cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#5. Watch Your Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugars interact with bacteria in the mouth to create acids that eat away at your smile. That\u2019s why it\u2019s in your best interest to limit your sugar intake to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/dental-checkups-cleanings.html\">protect your teeth<\/a>. Stay away from especially hard or sticky treats because these items stay in contact with your teeth for longer periods of time. Instead, try chocolate when indulging\u2014it washes down much faster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you ready to enjoy National Dental Hygiene Month with a smile? Use these tips to enjoy a healthy set of teeth for October and beyond!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Westgate Dental Care, we have a team of 5 dentists who offer a wide range of services for patients of all ages, including routine checkups, tooth-colored fillings, fluoride, and more. If you have any questions, they can be reached through their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or by phone at (847) 577-7171.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October is known for Fall weather, and of course, Halloween! However, this time of the year also marks National Dental Hygiene Month\u2014a reminder for the importance of the health of your entire mouth. That\u2019s why your dentist has included some easy yet effective oral hygiene tips! Read on to learn how to celebrate National Dental [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Can I Keep My Smile Healthy? | Westgate Dental Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for the best ways to keep your smile healthy? 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