Cleaning your teeth is important to prevent gingivitis, bad breath, and cavities. If you aren't cleaning your teeth properly each and every day, you could end up with these issues. You should also have your teeth cleaned by a professional dentist routinely. During a professional cleaning, your teeth are not just cleaned, but they are checked for dental issues and x-rays may be taken in order to stay on top of other dental concerns such as tumors in the jaw or gums, a breakdown of the jawbone, and other bone density concerns. There are things you should be doing to take good care of your teeth to keep them clean. Read on for helpful information.

1. Brush Daily And Thoroughly

You need to brush your teeth daily, in the morning when you get up and at night before you go to bed. If you aren't brushing your teeth thoroughly and are rushing through this process, you may be missing a good area of your teeth and could end up with cavities and plaque buildup on your teeth which could also lead to decay. You need to brush with a soft-bristle toothbrush that doesn't have worn-out bristles and should also use fluoride toothpaste. Be sure you are brushing the backsides of your teeth, near the gum line, and brush your gums and tongue as well.

2. Floss Every Single Day

Don't just floss your teeth the day before you go to the dentist for your checkup. You should be flossing your teeth every single day. Flossing helps remove plaque that has built up in between your teeth and removes stubborn food particles that may be stuck in between your teeth that your toothbrush isn't able to remove. Floss picks are easy to use and may be used more often than traditional floss.

3. Drink Water

Drinking water can help with dry mouth issues and can also help rinse the mouth after you eat and drink when you aren't able to brush your teeth. Drink water after you have had coffee, soda, or tea during the day, and drink water after eating to also help rinse the mouth as well. It can also assist in removing bacteria from the mouth when you cannot brush.

Your smile is important, and your teeth need to be well-cared for in order to keep that beautiful smile as healthy as possible. Make sure you are doing what you can to keep your teeth healthy and go in for routine teeth cleanings and checkups with your dentist.