Robert Haynes

Health & Medicine
4 MIN READ

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About At-Home Oral Healthcare

Cite This
Robert Haynes, (2021, November 3). Here’s Everything You Need to Know About At-Home Oral Healthcare. Psychreg on Health & Medicine. https://www.psychreg.org/everything-you-need-know-at-home-oral-care/
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Have you been wondering how to get that perfect white dental set? Has everything you have been doing not helped? Here are a few at-home tricks to adapt to get your snow-white teeth.

Everyone’s mouth is different. While we might all want to enjoy a pearly white smile, fresh breath, and tiptop healthy gums, it might be challenging to get our teeth there.  

It, however, isn’t impossible to achieve the perfect oral health for your teeth and gums. All it takes is certain daily practices to take care of them and prevent problems. This will involve you choosing the right oral care products and being mindful of your daily habits.

The importance of oral health care while working from home

Oral health is an integral part of good health. Good oral health helps us to smile, taste, chew, swallow easily. However, poor oral health can lead to consequences that go far beyond bad breath, including the development of diseases, the worsening of existing diseases, and increased medical expenses. 

Taking care of your teeth while working from home can be a hassle, as you are busy, you have a lot on your plate. So does everyone else! That’s why it is essential to take care of yourself while working from home by stocking up on the necessary items beforehand. It’s always a good idea to have all of your work from home essentials on hand in order not to get caught off guard.

Brush your teeth and mouth regularly 

Brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice daily is an essential part of your dental care routine. To maintain a tiptop oral routine, ensure that your toothbrush is relatively new, i.e., change it every two to three months. If the bristles are frayed, make sure you change them sooner. 

You can brush your teeth using at-home products such as salt or ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.

  • Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. 
  • Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. 
  • Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
  • To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.

Floss daily

Flossing is a key element to any well-rounded oral care routine, but a startling number of people skip this step completely. It’s important to floss daily, but it’s also important to floss with the proper technique. For most people, flossing once a day is adequate. You can talk to your dentist to see if you require additional sessions per day. 

Typically, doctors recommend flossing prior to brushing. You should always use a new section of floss in between teeth, otherwise, you may be taking bacteria and food particles from one area and depositing them into another. Therefore, you’ll need to have about 12–18 inches of floss per session. To avoid gum damage, always floss with a gentle touch.

Straighten teeth at home

Straightening teeth at home is doable but can be difficult, especially for more severe cases of teeth misalignment. 

However, aligners can be used for mild to moderate teeth misalignment like crooked or gapped teeth at home. There are two types of aligners: DIY and in-office. DIY aligners are easy to use, and one simply orders an impression kit online, whereby they send it back and receive their kits from the company chosen. 

In-office aligners, such as Invisalign, require a qualified orthodontist to treat you with it. They may be more costly, but you can easily get potential Invisalign discounts from trusted sources.

Some benefits of teeth straightening are:

  • Reduction of oral health conditions such as cavities and gum disease
  • Better speaking and chewing abilities
  • Less wear and tear on your teeth as misaligned teeth can cause tooth damage
  • The perfect radiant smile we all wish for

Eat crunchy foods and vegetables

As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is true for dentists. Daily intake of crunchy foods and vegetables such as apples and pears not only gives your mouth a workout but also provides you with a delicious source of fibre in your diet. These foods also clear your teeth of plaque and bacteria.

Ensure that you take crunchy fruits and vegetables such as carrots.  This way, saliva flow will be accelerated. Adequate saliva flow in your mouth is a natural defence against bacteria which are the building blocks for tooth decay. Doing this daily will ensure strong and healthy teeth.

Drink more water

Water is life. Drinking adequate amounts of water not only promotes excellent oral care but an overall healthy body. By drinking large amounts of water, we can prevent plaque build-up and protect our teeth’ enamel.

Benefits of drinking water

  • Drinking water fights cavities and gum diseases by rinsing away harmful bacteria and food debris.
  • A simple glass of water can wash away residue that might reduce the bacteria that cause bad breath and protect your tooth enamel.
  • It also helps your mouth stay hydrated and stimulates saliva production.

With all these benefits, the more you drink water, the brighter you’ll be smiling.

Give up bad oral health habits

Giving up habits that we might have developed over the years might be a difficult task to ask. But when something is interfering with your health or risking your well-being, it is advisable to try and stop it.

Some of the bad habits that can cause severe damage to your oral health include:

  • Smoking
  • Clenching and grinding
  • Using teeth as tools

We have to ensure that we protect our teeth.  It is advisable to think before doing something. Is this act going to cause a problem to my health in the future? Then you can decide whether to do it or not.

Find a great dental team

A great dentist is an arsenal under their belt. They can always check for any underlying problems that we had no clue were present.

Find an excellent and affordable dental team for your oral needs and ensure to book a check-up every twice a year.

How to find an excellent dental team:

  • Find out whether your insurance covers the provider.
  • Research if they are a member of the ADA. It is very much advisable that your doctor of choice be a member of the ADA.
  • Find out the functionality of your dentist. Do you need your teeth aligned? Why not look for an orthodontist instead? Is the dentist in your area?

Ensure that the doctor you end up choosing fits both your budget and your dental needs.

Bottom line

Your mouth is the gateway to your overall body health. Oral care should be a part of your daily routine without fail, and you’ll live to enjoy both a healthy and brilliant smile. These simple tips will take you a long way to ensure that you achieve just that.


Robert Haynes, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.


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