5 Hacks for a Healthy Smile

While mouthwash feels like it’s doing something good, most are actually not very good for oral health. Kind of like smoke and mirrors, it may make us feel better, but it rarely makes an impact on your smile. In fact, many alcohol-based mouthwashes can actually be harmful to your smile and cause irritation in your mouth. Alcohol dries out the mouth, which can contribute to creating more plaque.

While there are a few types of mouthwash that can be beneficial, it’s best to talk to Dr. G and the team here at Hawley Lane Dental to find the right mouthwash for your specific needs.

Those plastic single-use water bottles aren’t doing you any favors, so drink directly from the tap for maximum benefit. Tap water has fluoride in it, and fluoride contributes to a healthy smile! (Of course, we’re going to mention fluoride here!) Dr. G has visited areas that don’t have fluoride in the water and can absolutely see a difference, so take advantage and put those dollars toward a cool reusable water bottle!

You also don’t even need water filters – most tap water is pH-balanced to ensure you’re getting just what you need right from that tap in your kitchen! Improperly filtered water can actually be too acidic, which can cause problems for your teeth and overall oral health.

Xylitol is a naturally-derived sweetener, found in many sugarless gums and other sugar-free products. If you utilize Xylitol after you eat, it can help combat bacteria in your mouth from the meal you just ate, resulting in less plaque and fewer cavities! It can also stimulate saliva production to wash away food particles. If you can’t brush and floss after a meal, Xylitol gum is your next best option.

We often neglect our tongues, which is kind of odd, considering how much real estate they take up in our mouths! Our tongues store tons of bacteria, germs, and other gross things on them, contributing to bad breath, cavities, and more. A tongue scraper, which Dr. G calls the “pimple popping of oral care”, will help you remove those visible and invisible things that are clinging to your tongue. In fact, once you try it, you will likely be hooked! Gross? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely!

Tongue scrapers are inexpensive and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. This results in fresher breath, fewer cavities, and a healthier mouth overall.

The Sonicare toothbrush is by far Dr. G’s favorite tool for a healthy smile, calling it “the only electric toothbrush you need.” She recommends these to her patients and sells them in the office at wholesale because they’re just that great. The healthiest mouths we see here in the office tend to be Sonicare users. In fact, nearly every time she asks a patient with a great smile what they’re using at home, they tell her they’ve got a Sonicare.

Dr. G’s whole family uses these brushes, and they are the closest you’ll get to a dentist’s office clean at home. She says they’re so good you almost don’t need to floss. (Almost. Don’t ever stop flossing!) After trying many brands and options that are out there, Sonicare continues to offer the best, most consistent results.

What are you waiting for? Go get one if you don’t have one already!