Dental Hacks to Protect Your Teeth and Gums in 2020

On any given day, you likely do not have much time to dedicate to your oral health routine. The bacteria on your teeth, however, have all the time in the world and spend it chipping away at your enamel. 

Thankfully, there are several key ways you can even the playing field without taking too much time out of your already busy day. To get started in quickly and efficiently protecting your oral health, all you have to do is use these five dental hacks through 2020 and beyond.

Rinse After Eating and Drinking

Every time you eat, small pieces of food stick to your enamel and nourish harmful bacteria, aiding them in decimating your dental health. If you have time to go straight for the toothbrush, however, your efforts could also harm your tooth enamel, especially if you recently consumed acidic substances.

To get around this problem and give your teeth the protection they deserve, all you have to do is rinse the food debris away with fresh water. Taking only a few seconds of your time, rinsing with water will cleanse away the bacteria’s buffet until it is time to brush. This is also a good practice after sipping on sugary or acidic drinks since bacteria find those substances just as tasty.

Take Floss Along for the Ride

The regular use of floss is another smart way to keep from supporting those freeloading bacterial colonies in your mouth. As you use the floss to plow through their colonies, you remove their food source and dislodge the plaque from your teeth. Through this action, you remove millions of bacteria from the surface of the enamel, protecting its structure and preventing decay.

You can floss at any point in the day, even just after eating, as long as you actually have floss on hand, that is. So, keep it in the car, on your desk, and even in your pocket, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Then, whenever you have a free moment, bring it out and get to work, sending bacteria on their way in an instant.

Chew Gum Made with Xylitol

When you do not have the time to do the work, let your chewing gum take over the heavy lifting. Any gum made with xylitol sweeteners will do as they nix the sugar in favor of a much stronger ally.

Unlike sugar, which feeds the bacteria and keeps it cozy, xylitol effectively starves the bacteria since they cannot digest it. Even better, this sweetener is slippery, making it exceptionally difficult for the bacteria to hold onto the surface of the teeth.

Always Use a Gentle Touch

Although you lead a busy life, at some point in the day, you will need to complete your oral care routine. And when you do, to keep from doing more harm than good, you always need to use a gentle touch.

Using the wrong toothbrush or simply pressing too hard can damage your tooth enamel and gum tissue, after all, so it is worth being careful as you brush. So, do yourself a favor and switch to a soft-bristle brush, then use gentle circular motions during every brushing session.

Wear a Nightguard

Do you grind your teeth at night, waking up with jaw pain or a headache? If so, then bacteria and poor brushing habits are not your only worries. Grinding can also wreak havoc on your dental health. When you commit to wearing a nightguard, however, you effectively protect your teeth and gums while you snooze the night away.

If they are worn on a regular basis, nightguards can help prevent:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Fractured teeth
• Bone loss
• Receding gums

A custom fit is key in getting the right level of protection, so talk to your dentist about your options.

Your dentist is also available to help you dream up even more dental hacks to protect your teeth — and provide the care you need to maintain excellent dental health. To make an appointment, all it takes is a call to 704-540-7600 when you have a moment. Or you can request an appointment online right from your computer, tablet, or phone.