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When it comes to health, focusing on your gums and teeth might come low on the list. What more do you really need to do if you already brush and floss every single day? Actually, there are quite a few things you could be doing to promote better oral health, and it doesn’t just include brushing and flossing.

According to Clinton family dentistry, these two practices aren’t enough. Even if you swish around mouthwash every morning, there is more you should be doing. Here are 5 additional practices you can start for healthier teeth and gums.

Limit alcohol and tobacco consumption

We all know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your teeth, but did you also know that those evening beers are also not doing your mouth any favors? Not only does it contain sugars, but it also dehydrates your body significantly. This dehydration affects the way your mouth produces saliva.

Saliva production is actually crucial for keeping your mouth healthy. So do your best to cut back on any beverages that dehydrate you (in other words, anything containing alcohol).  And as far as tobacco goes, there has been numerous research proving its harmful effects on overall health, including oral health.

Don’t just brush, brush properly

Try not to spend 30 seconds brushing and call  it quits. Brush like you mean it, and do it for the recommended 2 minutes. Is it really hard to ask, just 4 minutes out of your day (remember, you need to brush in the evenings too)? Another helpful tip is not to brush too hard and do it in the proper circular pattern that the dentist taught you at a young age.

Cut back on soda, but drink more of this….

Drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your health, and that includes your oral health. Remember that thing we mentioned about dehydration and how it affects saliva production? Well you can prevent dehydration by drinking more water, and that in turn well up your saliva count.

Don’t just cut back on sweets, do more

Cutting back on sugary and acidic foods is one of the only diet-related tips most dentist’s give. But there is so much more you could be doing in relation to diet and oral health. Not only should you eliminate candy and soda as much as possible, you should be incorporating a few food groups into your daily meals and snacks.

As long as you aren’t vegetarian or vegan, you can strengthen teeth by eating meat like grass fed beef or organic chicken. Yogurt and dairy without added sugar is another great addition to any diet. If you are known to have a sweet tooth, start replacing more natural sugars like strawberries or honey with your go-to candy bars. Another helpful tip is to eat crunchy foods that promote saliva production.

Take these supplements for a boost in oral health

You should not only be taking a multivitamin and eating your superfoods, take these supplements for better oral health: probiotics, green tea, CoQ10, zinc, and vitamin A.