5 Exercises for Maintaining Great Dental Health

Maintaining great oral health is a lot like going to the gym – you must keep at it consistently and do it properly, otherwise you will just not achieve the best results! On the plus side, when keeping a good oral health routine, you will not break into a sweat (well, at least we like to think that anyway!). 

So, what is the best dental exercise routine? How can I get my teeth to be the dental equivalent of a lean-mean-muscle machine? In this article we will look at the 5 “exercises” for maintaining Great Dental Health.

1. Proper Teeth Brushing

One of the most basic, yet commonly incorrectly conducted dental health “exercises” is teeth brushing. Often overlooked, many people tend to brush their teeth quickly and incorrectly. First and foremost, teeth brushing should be done for at least 2 minutes - yes, you read it right! 

Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes by using gentle and short strokes on all the surfaces of your teeth – inner, outer, and the top of the teeth as well. Always remember to clean the back of your teeth and the gumline too, the so called “hard-to-reach” places. 

Do not forget to brush your tongue as a lot of bacteria resides on the top of tongue. Brushing your tongue can help keep your breath fresh as well.

2. Flossing

Ah, yes, flossing – the dental exercise equivalent to the physical exercise of planking. Not because it is hard, but because most people just do not like to do it as it feels as if time stands still while doing it, just like planking. 

However, proper flossing is especially important as it helps remove food particles and plaque from in between your teeth and under the gumline - places a toothbrush just cannot reach. Doing this helps to reduce the risk of developing gum diseases and tooth decay. 

To properly floss your teeth, take about 18 inches (45 cm) of floss and wrap a good amount around each of your middle fingers leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) of floss in between. Hold it by using your thumbs and index fingers, gently put it in between your teeth and start sliding it up and down. 

Make sure to floss beneath the gumline by curving the floss around the bottom part of each tooth. Do it gently though as forcing the floss can bruise or even cut the delicate gum tissue. 

Remember to switch to a clean section of the floss every time you change teeth. To carefully remove the floss, use the same motion to move the floss towards the top of the tooth.

3. Rinsing with Mouthwash

Adding a dental rinsing solution or mouthwash to your daily oral health routine can go a long way and give you great results. Mouthwash helps protect teeth from plaque bacteria that produces acids, which are harmful to your teeth, and helps to reduce the risk of gum diseases such as gingivitis. It also keeps your breath fresh and minty.

To correctly use mouthwash, first, make sure to use the correct amount. Unless instructed differently on the label, fill up the cap of the mouthwash bottle for the necessary amount of rinsing solution to use. 

Check the label to see if you need to dilute the mouthwash with water. Some of the rinsing solutions might be of high concentration, so you might need to dilute it with some water first before using it. 

Most mouthwashes require you to swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds and then spit it out. Do check the label of the mouthwash first to see if it says otherwise, but in most cases, it is usually around a half a minute. 

Do note that mouthwash is an addition to proper oral hygiene and not a replacement, so use it in combination with teeth brushing and flossing. 

4. Hygiene and Dental Check-Up

Seeing your dentist for a check-up is a bit like getting a personal trainer at the gym to help you stay on the right track with your training. It is especially important that your dental health is assessed by a professional dentist at least twice a year to prevent any dental diseases and to ensure that your teeth are healthy. 

The same goes with hygiene appointments - maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine is important, but you should go for a proper oral hygiene appointment at least twice a year for the best results.

5. A Healthy Diet

It is no secret – about 70% of a healthy lifestyle is a proper diet and the other 30% is exercising. In the world of dental health, it may be closer to being the other way around, but both eating healthily and the “exercises” of looking after your teeth still go hand in hand for maintaining proper dental health.

A diet consisting of highly sugary and acidic drinks and foods like sweets, fizzy drinks, etc., can greatly harm your teeth, especially if you do not maintain proper oral hygiene. Such foods affect your tooth enamel that protects the health of your teeth, so make sure to always consume these types of foods and beverages in moderation. 

There are also foods and drinks that can improve your oral health. Leafy greens, dark coloured berries, nuts and green teas, are full of calcium, minerals and other great vitamins that boost the health and strength of your teeth and oral health (we actually have an article about this topic, which you can check out on our blog).  

So, make sure to treat your dental health like going to the gym – no, not by skipping it or putting it off until later! Follow these 5 “exercises” to maintain a proper oral health and have a great “fit” and healthy smile.