It's no secret that great oral hygiene is essential for your health. However, a frightening 31% of people don't actually brush their teeth twice a day as recommended by the American Dental Association and 2% don't brush their teeth at all. Without proper oral hygiene, you put yourself at risk for tooth decay and gum disease, which play a surprising role in chronic conditions like heart disease.

Whether you're looking to brighten your pearly whites, freshen your breath, or simply improve your dental health for the sake of the rest of your health, here are four essential tips you can use to improve your oral hygiene game.

Maintain a Teeth-Friendly Diet

Foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, fiber, and proteins are good for your teeth. Fruits like apples prevent the accumulation of harmful acids in the mouth by maintaining a flow of saliva. Oils such as olive oil also form a protective layer around your teeth, preventing plaque from forming. (Italian food never seemed so good!) Vegetables are also great to include in your diet because they contain vitamins that aid in the production of saliva, which cleans your mouth and strengthens the enamel.

Introducing green tea to your diet could be a game-changer as it helps destroy disease-causing bacteria around your teeth. It's important to avoid sugary drinks and snacks as they feed bacteria in your mouth, leading to the release of harmful acids that slowly harm your teeth. Good dental hygiene relies on a healthy diet. Remember to drink plenty of water to make it uninhabitable for microorganisms that cause dental diseases.

Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

Stressful situations are a part of daily life, but it's important to mitigate stress to keep it from impacting your health. Chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels and unhealthy behaviors that negatively impact your oral health such as jaw clenching, nail-biting, and teeth grinding. These actions have serious implications on your oral health.

Additionally, unhealthy lifestyle choices resulting from stress, such as smoking and drinking, greatly diminish dental hygiene. Smoking irritates gum tissues and loosens teeth making it easy for bacteria to penetrate into the roots, causing tooth decay.

Attend Regular Dental Assessments

Even if you follow a consistent dental care routine, it's important to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and exams at least once every six months. Dental cleanings are crucial for removing plaque, tartar, and decay from your teeth before they can become more serious.

Have a Dental Care Routine

According to the American Dental Association, it's recommended to brush your teeth twice a day to get rid of plaque. It doesn't take long for plaque to turn into tartar. A tartar removing dental gel like LIVFRESH can also help you keep tooth decay at bay. Be sure to use a standard toothbrush with soft bristles, and remember to change your toothbrush every three months. Both your toothpaste and dental gel of choice you use ought to be proven to fight plaque. It's also recommended to floss at least once a day to remove any plaque build-up between the teeth and in other hard-to-reach areas.

Are you looking to boost your oral hygiene game? LIVFRESH is the dental gel for you. Helping to remove both plaque and tartar, LIVFRESH gives you a step up in oral health when used alongside your regular toothpaste. To learn more about our tartar removing dental gel and how it can improve your dental hygiene, contact us today.