The best defense against oral health issues is to form healthy routines, such as brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting the dentist every six months. Patients with the healthiest smiles are those who recognize the need for preventive dentistry.

Here are the top 7 recommendations for maintaining healthy teeth and gums because we believe that it is never too late to begin taking charge of your oral health.

1. Make sure to brush properly:
It's crucial to wash your teeth properly; in fact, not brushing at all is almost as terrible as brushing poorly. To eliminate plaque, take your time and use light, circular motions with the toothbrush. 

2. Use toothpaste with fluoride:
There are more factors to consider than just flavors and whitening power when choosing toothpaste. Whichever form you select, be sure you get fluoride in it.
Fluoride is still essential for maintaining good dental health, despite concerns about its effects on other aspects of health that have drawn attention to it. 

3. Don’t neglect your tongue:
Your tongue can also accumulate plaque. This may result in other oral health issues in addition to poor mouth odor. Each time you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue as well.

4. Don't allow trouble flossing to deter you:
Flossing can be challenging, particularly for elderly people with arthritis and small children. Look for devices that can assist you in flossing your teeth rather than giving up. Drugstore-purchased dental flossers that are ready to use can help.

5. Think about mouthwash:
Mouthwash advertisements seem to be essential for maintaining good oral health, yet many individuals ignore them because they are unaware of their mechanism of action. 

6. Increase your water intake:
The greatest beverage for your general health, including your oral health, is still water. Additionally, drinking water is a general rule of thumb following every meal. Between brushes, this can help mitigate some of the harmful effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages.