This post is sponsored by Colgate but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I’m one of those weird people who loves the dentist. You seriously can’t beat the refreshing feeling of a professional cleaning. So, it’s no surprise that I’m also a bit obsessive about my daily dental hygiene. As my husband will surely attest, my nighttime routine takes upwards of 5 to 10 minutes—but it’s worth it!
PAYING ATTENTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE
A few years ago, I had my normal bi-annual dental cleaning and they warned me that my gums were in bad shape. Part of that is hereditary, they said, but, there were steps I could take to keep my gums healthy and do my part to avoid expensive dental work in the future. Obviously, I took that warning seriously because there’s no way I want to spend thousands of dollars at the dentist if I don’t have to, and here are the 4 steps I take to keep my smile fresh and clean on a daily basis.
4 WAYS I KEEP MY SMILE FRESH AND CLEAN
COLGATE ESSENTIALS WITH CHARCOAL TOOTHPASTE
Charcoal is all the rage these days. Skincare, hair products—seriously, you’ll find it everywhere. But, one of its best uses is in oral care. Colgate Essentials Toothpaste with Charcoal is a budget-friendly toothpaste with charcoal that removes stains with tiny micro-polishers, whitens (that’s charcoal’s best attribute, in my opinion!), and tastes minty fresh. It doesn’t feel harsh, but it feels like it’s doing its job—leaving my smile bright and healthy.
DAILY FLOSS
Yes, you have to floss. I know some people hate it or associate it with the desperate day-before-the-dentist flossing routine, but it’s so important for your dental hygiene. I haven’t always been a good flosser, but, recently, my dentist showed me exactly what to do and it’s made a world of difference. Next time you have your dental cleaning, ask for a demonstration on how to floss—it’s worth making sure you’re doing it right!
WATER PICK
I’ve had dentists tell me this is an essential…and I’ve had other dentists tell me it’s completely unnecessary. Personally, I think it’s a step that doesn’t hurt. I use my water pick after flossing to provide a second layer of cleaning my gums, just in case I missed anything. Typically, I use lukewarm water because my gums can be a bit sensitive to cold water. Also, I have a battery operated water pick, which is great because it doesn’t take up a ton of room in the bathroom.
WHITENING PRODUCTS IN THE EVENING
This is for vanity purposes only, but I use whitening products in the evening. I used to incorporate them into my morning beauty routine, then I realized that it’s a big mistake to use a whitener before drinking coffee. You 100% do not want to consume anything that could stain on top of sensitive, recently whitened teeth!
LASTLY, DON’T FORGET TO SCHEDULE YOUR CLEANING!
Even with all of these measures on a daily basis, it’s still important to schedule your bi-annual professional cleaning at the dentist. Hopefully, it’s an appointment that makes you feel good about everything you’re doing to keep your smile feeling fresh, clean, and healthy!
