Although your mouth will never feel as clean as it does after a cleaning appointment with your dentist, there are some things you can do to maintain that fresh feeling as long as possible.

When it comes to dental care, it's easier to maintain a healthy mouth than for a dentist to correct poor dental hygiene. Here are 6 tips to help keep your teeth clean between your twice-a-year dental cleanings.

Brush often – and use the proper technique

Brushing your teeth at least twice daily – every morning and night before sleep is recommended. Want to do more? You can eliminate most bacteria-causing food particles and keep your teeth clean if you brush after every meal or drink something besides water. Even a good rinse with mouthwash after eating or drinking is helpful.

To maintain healthy teeth, it’s also important that you use the proper technique when you brush. Keep your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use short circular motions, making sure that you’re brushing your teeth and not your gums. Be careful not to brush aggressively or use too much pressure because this can lead to gum recession or make your teeth porous and sensitive. Proper brushing may take some practice, but it will quickly become a natural habit.

Read More: Are You Using the Right Toothpaste?

Floss daily

Brushing alone isn’t enough to get the tight, hard-to-reach places between your teeth. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends flossing every day. And just like brushing, flossing will be more effective if you use the proper technique. To floss correctly, keep the following steps in mind:

• Wrap about two inches of floss between your fingers and unroll a new section for each tooth.
• Keep the floss tight against each tooth to break up plaque without harming your gums.
• For a thorough cleaning, floss front and back teeth – even behind the last molars in your mouth.

Read More: How to Floss Your Teeth

Cut down on sugar

Reducing sugar and soda is good for your teeth and your overall health.

Eating a lot of sugar isn’t good for your teeth because it makes your mouth more acidic and grows bacteria. This causes plaque to build up, which harms your gums and tooth enamel and leads to premature tooth decay. Limiting sugar intake, especially from sugary drinks and sweet treats, will significantly benefit your oral health. When you do eat or drink sugary treats, it’s recommended to rinse, brush, and floss as soon as possible.

Did you know that drinking soda regularly wreaks havoc on your teeth? The ingredients that make soda fizzy (citric acid and phosphoric acid) eat away at your enamel and cause cavities. An occasional soda won't hurt you, but sticking to water is best. Try adding some fruit or mint leaves to your water for extra flavor.

Avoid smoking

Your gums and teeth are more sensitive after a dental cleaning, and the chemicals in cigarette smoke and vapes can delay healing. That’s why it’s best to avoid smoking for 24 hours to allow the gums to heal.

Nicotine stains teeth – and the damage caused by nicotine can increase right after a deep cleaning. This is because deep cleaning and whitening agents temporarily make teeth more porous, allowing chemicals to enter the tooth. Nicotine on clean, porous teeth can cause excess staining and reverse the benefits of a good deep cleaning. Nicotine and tar also coat your mouth and teeth, harming your gums. This coating increases bacteria and plaque production, leading to the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Read More: How to Recognize Gum Disease

Chew gum

If you can't brush or rinse after a meal, chewing sugar-free gum helps remove food residue and freshen your breath. Chewing gum also increases saliva production, which has natural antibacterial properties that flush your mouth and prevent damage from bacteria.

Eat foods that naturally clean your teeth

Sugary foods and sodas can harm your teeth, but did you know some foods are good for your teeth? Firm and crisp foods like carrots, apples, celery, and popcorn are called “detergent” foods because they reduce plaque. They’re not a substitute for brushing, flossing, or rinsing, but eating these foods gives your teeth a clean boost.

Don’t take your oral health for granted.

Remember the above tips to keep your teeth extra clean between dental visits. But professional twice-a-year teeth cleaning is the best way to maintain your oral health and catch any potential issues before they become serious. If you need a professional cleaning or any other dental treatment, contact Atkins & Anderson DDS today and schedule an appointment.