Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! It's the perfect time to focus on dental hygiene, since, after all, your date will want to kiss a clean mouth with a healthy smile. To ensure your lips are extra kissable for the special occasion, start implementing these simple oral hygiene tips as soon as possible.

Replace your toothbrush more often.

Experts recommend switching to a new toothbrush every three to four months, but many people wait far longer. This is not doing your smile any favors! Not only does a worn-out toothbrush do a poor job of scrubbing your teeth clean, but old toothbrushes also harbor more bacteria. The last thing you want to do before your big date is introduce more smelly oral bacteria to your mouth, so switch to a new toothbrush. And then remind yourself to do the same thing again three months down the road.

Brush your tongue.

Guess what -- your teeth are not the only dirty surface in your mouth! If you're not also brushing your tongue, you're leaving behind a lot of nasty oral bacteria, and you probably also have stinky breath (even if you don't realize it). Just use your toothbrush to gently brush your tongue, using a circular motion, after you've finished brushing your teeth. Be gentle. You may notice a gagging reflex the first few times, but you'll soon adapt to the process.

Purchase floss you don't mind using.

You know you're supposed to floss once a day, but if you're like most people, you find flossing annoying -- and maybe even a bit painful -- so you don't do it nearly as often as you should. The secret here is to find floss that you can use easily and more comfortably. For many people, this means paying a little more for extra-thin, synthetic floss. This type won't fray like standard floss, and it's easier to wiggle between close-together teeth.

If you struggle even with thin floss, try using dental flosser picks. They're tiny devices that are pre-strung with floss. A few days using the right floss, and your mouth will be far cleaner for Valentine's Day.

Set a timer.

Do you really brush for the recommended two minutes twice per day? Chances are, you rush through the brushing process more often than not, and as a result, you miss spots. Don't leave your date to stare at a spotty, plaque-covered smile. Set a timer on your phone and brush for the whole two minutes. Make this your new habit!

For more tips to improve your dental hygiene throughout the year, talk with a professional dentist, such as Paul Dona DDS.