How You Can Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month

Fun fact: October is National Dental Hygiene Month! That means celebrating how to keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh as a result. One of the best ways to do that is to get your regular cleaning and dental checkup in East Islip. Here are some other ways to celebrate this month in style.

Brush Every Morning and Night

Brushing your teeth should be among the first few things you do in the morning and the last things you do before bed. Besides combating morning breath, brushing early in the day cleans out all the bacteria that may have been accumulating overnight. In the same vein, brushing before bed prevents bacteria from wreaking havoc on your teeth while you sleep.

Floss Once a Day

Admittedly, not many people like flossing. However, it’s critically important to the health of your teeth and gums. It’s the only way to remove bacteria from between your teeth that could cause cavities and gum disease. Flossing is also the only way of cleaning two of the five surfaces of your teeth. It might feel like a lot at first, but once you get in the habit of flossing, it’s awfully hard to stop!

Use Mouthwash

Your teeth and gums actually make up a small portion of your mouth. Because of that, there are lots of soft tissues in your mouth that don’t get cleaned on a regular basis. That can change if you rinse with mouthwash. Swish some around in your mouth before or after brushing your teeth. Just be sure to avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol, as that can dry out your mouth and actually increase your risk of tooth decay.

Chew Sugarless Gum

According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugar-free gum for a few minutes after a meal can decrease your risk of getting gum disease and cavities. This is because the act of chewing stimulates saliva production. Since saliva rinses your mouth out of harmful bacteria, you want as much of it as you can get.

Get a Teeth Cleaning in East Islip

Regular cleanings from your dental hygienist can leave your mouth feeling fresh! The hygienist will also polish your teeth so that they shine a little bit brighter. Furthermore, this is the best time of year to visit your dentist. If your dental insurance plan runs on a calendar year, your benefits are about to run out. You might as well get the most bang for your buck and get your teeth all nice and clean!

October is a month filled with candy, but that’s no excuse to let your oral health fall by the wayside. Follow the tips listed above to celebrate Dental Hygiene Month. Your fresh breath will thank you!

About the Author

Dr. Gary Rosenfeld is a dentist in East Islip with more than 35 years of experience in the dental field so far. Throughout his career, he has completed more than 1000 hours of continuing education and has even been honored by the New York State Dental Society for doing so. To schedule your next checkup and cleaning, contact Dr. Rosenfeld at (631) 581-8600.