Everyone knows that taking care of their oral health is a must. You have to protect your teeth and the health of your gums, after all. But how you go about trying to do that is just as important as doing it at all. If you're making one or more of these mistakes, you may not be as effective at caring for your oral health as you think.

Brushing

Have you ever been told by a dentist that you need to brush your teeth with circular motions, rather than a sawing back-and-forth motion? This is absolutely true. However, many people ignore this advice because it's easier to brush their teeth the other way.

The reason you need to make tiny circles is because it's better at both cleaning between your teeth and cleaning the gum line. When you go side-to-side, the bristles glide over the surface of the teeth and the spaces between them. As a result, you may not clear away as much plaque between your teeth, which can lead to enamel erosion and eventually cavities, and you could develop gum disease.

Flossing

Flossing correctly is also important. Many people floss by just pulling the floss between their teeth and then back out again. This will remove some plaque and debris, but not most of it.

Instead, when you pull the floss down between your teeth, pull it until it reaches the edge of the gum. Then, very gently, slide it further down than that so that it goes under the edge of the gum. Now, instead of pulling straight up, move the floss like you're scooping upwards. Think about making the shape of a 'U' when you do this. This will help to get rid of any plaque and bacteria under the surface of the gums and will remove more of it from between your teeth, too.

Tongue Cleaning

Finally, tongue cleaning is something that many people skip entirely. For some, it can be nauseating to try and clean their tongue. However, you can avoid that problem if you know how.

When you brush your tongue, only use a little bit of toothpaste. You want to have friction here because there's a layer of biofilm on your tongue that needs to be removed. Move the toothbrush (without touching your tongue) to the back of your tongue as far as you can. Press the toothbrush down on the surface of the tongue, and then drag it forward towards your teeth. Since you're not moving towards the back of your throat when you brush, this should help to reduce any sensation of nausea. Simply repeat the process until you've covered the entire area of the tongue.

With these tips and regular visits to your local family dentistry office, you can greatly improve your oral health and protect your teeth and gums.