Dentists usually encourage their patients to take great care of their teeth at home. Still, when it comes to at-home care, many dental patients know little beyond regular brushing and flossing. Here are a few measures that you can take at home to improve or maintain the health of your teeth and gums:

Ban Citrus Juices and Soda

Citrus juices and sodas may seem refreshing, but they also damage your tooth enamel and inflame your gums. Both beverages have a high acid content. Thus, they demineralize the tooth enamel like the acids produced by the bacteria of the mouth. Additionally, the acids can cause the inflammation of the gingival tissues, leading to gum disease.

Juices made from citrus fruits also contain fructose, which is a simple sugar. The microbes in the oral cavity feed on the sugar and generate more oral acids.

Regular sodas also contain sugars that supply the bacteria with food. However, even if a sugar-free soda is selected, the beverage is still damaging to the teeth because of its acidity.

Water is still the preferred beverage to help maintain your oral health. The clear liquid hydrates the mouth, dilutes oral acids, and rinses away food and plaque. Additionally, the fluoride in the water helps to protect the teeth from decay.

Add Water Flossing to Your Routine

Water flossing can be a beneficial adjunct to your oral hygiene regimen. The water from the flosser can reach below the gum line to flush away plaque that a toothbrush and string floss may be unable to reach. 

Water flossing also encourages the proper flow of blood to the gums, helping the tissues to remain healthy. Some flossers have controls that allow you to pulsate the water flow for a gingival massage. Still, it is important to set the intensity of the water flow to a comfortable level for your mouth. Blasting sensitive gums with a concentrated stream of water can damage the soft tissues.

Encourage Saliva Production Through Hydration and Chewing

One of the most protective natural mechanisms of your mouth is the release of saliva. Saliva naturally cleans the mouth and increases the pH to a healthy level, reducing the risk of decay. 

Saliva is made primarily of water, so proper hydration is important to the production of the secretion. Also, chewing sugarless gum can improve the flow of saliva, since chewing incites saliva production.

For more things that you can do to help keep your teeth healthy, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.