While it's true that you should brush and floss to keep your teeth healthy and looking good you should also be concerned with the overall health of your entire mouth. If you don't keep your entire mouth hygienic then it can lead to dental problems and other issues even though you care for your teeth regularly. You can learn about how to care for your entire mouth by reading the helpful information provided here:

Use a water pick

A water pick has a similar function to that of floss in that it gets leftover food and plaque from those otherwise unreachable areas. However, the water pick can also do a great job of helping to clean the area where your teeth meet your gums and this is a spot in your mouth that floss can't help you with and that toothbrushes can skip over.

Use a tongue scraper

Many people count on the bristles of their toothbrush to help them clean their tongue. Your toothbrush bristles won't really remove all that plaque and bacteria off of your tongue the way you would hope. You should instead opt to use a tongue scraper that has been designed for this purpose.

Try to cut out as many sticky foods as possible

Sticky foods will cause a stickiness in your mouth that will cause the other things you consume to remain in your whole mouth for much longer. This will obviously have an impact on your teeth, but it will also lead to bad breathe and a dry mouth.

Wash your food down with water

Drinking water with your meal is a good idea for many reasons. If you have some weight to lose it can help you feel full faster, it ensures that you get in more water throughout the day and it helps with your oral hygiene by rinsing down food particles right away which will cut down on the amount of bacteria that your mouth is exposed to and reduce plaque. Drinking water will also help you to have better breath and can help prevent teeth staining.

Use mouthwash

Mouthwash doesn't only help with the health of your teeth, it also helps to create a healthier oral environment in general. You want to swish it around so it gets in as many parts of your mouth as possible and gargle with it so you get it all the way to the back of your mouth. For more information, talk to a professional like Tore D Steinberg DDS PC.