How To Develop Good Dental Hygiene In 10 Minutes Per Day

Posted on: 13 June 2016

Taking good care of your teeth can be one of the best things you do for yourself, yet it's something you need to be vigilant about doing at least twice a day every single day. Slacking in dental care can result in tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, gum disease, and worse, so it's important to stay on top of it. Try developing a good dental hygiene that can be done in only ten minutes per day, and you are setting yourself up for success. By making it doable within a more than reasonable amount of time, you empower yourself to take excellent care of your teeth.

Choose Times

You need to break down your plan into easy-to-follow steps. Start by planning to have a dental care session twice per day. Each session should last five minutes each. Choose the times in the day when you can do this without a lot of hassle. For example, if mornings are extremely crazy, you may not want to add that extra burden on yourself, but a leisurely afternoon may be the best time to fit in dental care. It's easier for many people to commit to dental care habits as the first thing in the morning after waking and the last thing they do before sleeping. Go with what will be easiest for you.

Make a List

Make a list of everything that will be included in each dental care session. That will help you quickly run through the efforts you need to do to make optimal care of yourself. Things you can do within each five minute session include the following.

  • Brushing your teeth - Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time or each tooth-brushing session.
  • Flossing - Go in between teeth to remove plaque and food particles.
  • Rinsing with Mouthwash - Swishing with mouthwash can kill germs that you may not be able to remove by simply brushing your teeth. Swish for 30 seconds to one full minute.
  • Observing your teeth - Use a dental mirror to look at your teeth, and use a pick to remove any further debris or particles that may have been missed. A quick check is all that's needed.

Combined, these habits should fit within the five-minute time frame that you have allotted for dental care. 

Finally, keep in mind that they key to success with a habit is sticking with it every single day. When you're tempted to skip a day, remember that can lead to a setback. Since you have set a reasonable goal of 10 minutes per day, it's pretty painless to follow through. You're worth it, so keep showing up for yourself and taking the best care of your teeth that you can.

For more information, contact Rupp and Grabowski Family Dentistry or a similar location.