My Dental Routine
This is the dental routine I personally follow every day. It is a routine that works well for me and helps me feel that I am taking good care of my teeth, gums, and mouth.
I am sharing it as my personal experience, not as dental or medical advice. Everyone’s teeth and gums are different, so what works for me may not necessarily be right for someone else. Talk to your dentist first.
Tongue scraping
I start my day with tongue scraping. I use a plastic tongue scraper (I like the tongue scrapers from two Swiss brands Trisa and Curaprox) and gently scrape from the middle/back of my tongue towards the tip, using light pressure. I then rinse my mouth well with water.
For me, it is a simple way to remove the coating that can build up on the surface of the tongue and leave my mouth feeling clean and fresh.
Swishing with propolis
I use approximately 1 ml of alcohol-free propolis and gently swish it around my mouth for about 20 seconds, making sure it reaches my teeth and other areas of my mouth. I then spit it out.
Flossing
I floss my teeth twice a day.
For me, this is an important step because flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and around the gumline, where a toothbrush cannot reach as effectively.
I gently guide the floss between my teeth, curve it around each tooth, and move it carefully along the tooth and just beneath the gumline.
I use dental floss made from two ingredients: silk and beeswax. I buy this product on Amazon, and if you would like the link, you can contact me and I will share it.
Toothbrushing
I use a Trisa Sonicpower Pro-interdental soft toothbrush and brush my teeth two to three times a day for two minutes each time. I take my time to brush all the surfaces of my teeth and thoroughly remove the plaque that builds up throughout the day.
I also like to alternate between three or four toothpastes that are among my favourites. I personally enjoy changing between them rather than sticking to only one.
A final note
This is my personal dental routine and what works for me. I am not presenting it as a replacement for professional dental care.
I believe that taking care of my teeth is about consistency and paying attention to the small things I can do every day.
Nutrition absolutely matters
Good dental hygiene is important for maintaining healthy teeth, but I absolutely believe that good nutrition provides an important foundation for overall health and healthy teeth.
A nutrient-dense diet that provides the body with essential minerals and other nutrients is, in my view, an important part of the bigger picture. Nutrition and oral health are closely connected, and diet can influence processes such as tooth demineralisation and remineralisation.
I particularly like the idea expressed by Medical Medium that “teeth are time capsules.” To me, this is a thought-provoking way of looking at how our past nutritional status and overall health may be reflected in our teeth over time.. and what we may have been missing nutritionally decades ago can sometimes show up in our health later in life.