A More Thorough Clean with Dental Hygiene Tips

• Brushing your teeth daily morning and night doesn't guarantee you're giving your mouth all the attention it needs.

Even a regular oral hygiene routine could be leaving gaps if you engage in a few not-so-great habits with your time with the brush.

Consider the following dental hygiene tips to help you take your care routine to the next level so you can make sure you have a more thorough clean.

• Don't sugarcoat it.

Sugar is a major culprit in tooth decay. It fuels bacteria and acidity in your mouth, causing plaque to form and eat away at your enamel and gums.

Your pearly whites are hit with up to 20 minutes of acid production for every sugar fest you indulge in, from sweetened coffee in the morning to ice cream at night.

So think twice before you get hungry for a midnight snack. Brushing well may clear your teeth of bacteria and food particles, but if you eat a snack afterward, you'll need to brush again before bed.

Having a snack before sleep (without brushing) can allow food particles and sugar to remain on your teeth for too long, providing fuel for bacteria that feeds on it.

You don't need special equipment or covers to keep the toothbrush itself clean. In fact, the ADA warns that covering your toothbrush can actually breed new bacteria and introduce it into your mouth.

Instead, just rinse your brush after each use and allow it to air dry. You should also avoid sharing brushes with others, even your kids.

Use the right toothbrush. You want a brush with soft bristles like all of the Fairywill brushes. With the right technique, it should last two to three months. Bristles deteriorate with time and usage, so if you're using the same toothbrush beyond a few months, you may not be getting the best clean anymore.

It's ready to be replaced when you notice bent bristles, but don't wait that long. Even a straight bristle tip can become blunted instead of rounded and cause injury to the teeth and gums.

• Rather, make a point of getting a new brush every three to four months or at your semiannual dental checkup.

If you're prone to ditching the dentist, you're among the roughly 50% of adults in the United States who don't see a dentist yearly because of dental phobia, finances, or just plain neglect.

But spend some quality time with your dentist (twice a year, the American Dental Association advises), and you'll catch problems such as decay, gum disease, trauma, or cancer at an early stage when they're treatable, not to mention more affordable to take care of.

• Fairywill encourages you every day and in every-way to take care of your dental hygiene.