Dental care is an important part of keeping your entire body physically healthy. Scheduling two visits a year with your dentist is the just the first step in proper dental care. Your dentist will perform a deep cleaning and do a thorough examination to spot any potential problems before they become severe. In between those 6 month trips, there are a few things you can do at home. 

Take the Time to Brush Your Teeth

In addition to brushing your teeth twice each day, it is important that you pay attention to how long you're brushing. The American Dental Association recommends spending two minutes brushing to effectively remove food particles and plaque. You can set a timer on your iPod or watch a video that is 2 minutes long to pass the time. 

Use a Daily Fluoride Mouthwash 

The Pharmaceutical Journal reports that a .05 percent fluoride mouthwash is best used after each tooth brushing. Users should swish the mouthwash around in their mouths for a total of 1 minute before spitting it out. Never swallow the mouthwash. Wait at least 30 minutes after using the fluoride solution before eating or drinking so that you get the maximum benefit from it.

Brush Your Tongue

Your teeth are not the only part of your mouth that harbor bacteria and food particles. Women's Health magazine suggests either using your toothbrush or purchasing a tongue scraper to give your tongue a good cleaning. You'll only need to do this once per day, and although it doesn't matter when, it is easiest if you just do it after brushing your teeth and before using the mouthwash. 

Use Disclosing Tablets

You may have used disclosing tablets as a child when going through a dental care assembly at school, but they are just as helpful when you become an adult. It's good practice to use one of these tablets once per month just to see if there are any spots you're missing when you brush. According to WebMD, you prepare the disclosing tablets as instructed on the product packaging and then use it only after you've brushed and flossed. The areas that were not cleaned properly will be stained red. Finally, you'll be able to repeat brushing your teeth with a concentration on the red areas. 

Flossing, avoiding smoking, and limiting the amount of coffee and tea you consume are just a few more tips to consider when practicing proper dental care at home. 

For dental care, contact a company such as Esthetic Dental Group LLC.