Daily Oral Hygiene Checklist
Do your teeth just seem okay? If you’re reading this, chances are you already have some kind of dental routine but maybe it doesn’t feel like it's getting the job done anymore. Or, maybe your teeth look white but you showed up to the dentist and had a mouth full of cavities.
People often associate white teeth with healthy teeth, but a variety of important habits contribute to healthy, white teeth outside of just whitening strips or toothpaste. Here’s a simple checklist to make sure you’re taking care of your teeth the right way, every day.
Brush Your Teeth Morning & Night
This is non-negotiable. It’s pretty common knowledge that brushing your teeth twice a day is important, but if your teeth still feel grimy after brushing, here are some recommendations to help you get more out of those twice-daily cleanings.
- Switch to an electric toothbrush. The differences between a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush in terms of efficacy are staggering. Electric toothbrushes are proven to remove up to 21% more plaque than manual toothbrushes and result in healthier gums. We especially love Sonicare and Oral-B toothbrushes. Click here to shop our founder’s favorite electric toothbrush.
- It's likely your toothpaste also needs an upgrade! It’s important that the toothpaste you're using actually contains the ingredients needed to protect your enamel and strengthen your teeth. This Carifree toothpaste is infused with fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite, both of which prevent cavities and remineralize the teeth.
Floss with the Slate Electric Flosser
If you’re not flossing daily, (preferably twice daily) then this is where your routine is lacking. Many dentists believe that FLOSSING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BRUSHING. Think about it. Where do cavities most often occur? Between the teeth. The pockets between teeth harbor food and bacteria, allowing cavities to develop and your teeth to rot. The easiest way to prevent those cavities, not to mention gum disease, is to floss consistently. Flossing with the Slate Electric Flosser gives your teeth a next-level clean. The Slate Flosser's gum sweeps are designed to reach into those pockets between your teeth and clean them out while the woven floss disrupts plaque and removes debris from tight spots between teeth. If your dentist appointments often include fillings, flossing is your low-cost solution.
Scrape Your Tongue
If your teeth feel clean but your breath still smells then you’re probably not doing enough to clean your tongue. Any bacteria that wasn’t removed in the process of brushing and flossing is generally left sitting on your tongue at the end of your oral care routine. This bacteria often leads to bad breath. By gently scraping your tongue from back to front a few times after flossing, you can feel confident that you’ve eliminated any gunk lingering on your tongue. Lucky for you the Slate Electric Flosser includes a tongue scraper on the back of each floss head!
Rinse with Mouthwash
There is some debate regarding mouthwash and its benefits. What most dental professionals are worried about is mouthwash containing alcohol. The alcohol found in some brands of mouthwash has the potential to kill off important oral bacteria and thus does more harm than good. However, if you find a good brand, mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your daily oral health routine. This daily rinse by Carifree helps maintain your long-term oral health by providing the anti-cavity benefits of fluoride, pH neutralization, and xylitol. Their alcohol and dye-free Maintenance Rinse is the perfect choice for protecting your enamel.