Excellent dental hygiene must be practised to maintain good health. Gum disease, tooth decay, and other health problems can be prevented with good oral health. It also keeps your breath clean and your smile bright. Good dental hygiene includes eating a balanced diet, brushing and flossing, and scheduling regular dental checkups. In this post, we'll examine the steps you may take to maintain proper oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth twice a day
The cornerstone of proper dental hygiene is brushing your teeth twice a day. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can accumulate on your teeth, is removed by brushing. If plaque is not eliminated, it can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. Circularly brush your teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth in addition to the fronts, backs, and tops of your teeth.
Floss once a day
In order to get food and plaque out from between your teeth, flossing is a crucial step. Use 18 inches of floss to floss your teeth at least once every day, preferably before going to bed. Hold the floss firmly between your thumb and index finger by wrapping it around your middle fingers. Carefully move the floss in a C-shape around each tooth, moving below the gum line, then up and down between each tooth. For each tooth, be sure to use a fresh section of floss.
Chew sugarless gum
Gum without sugar might encourage the production of saliva. This may be useful in clearing your mouth of bacteria and food debris. To help prevent tooth decay, look for gum that contains xylitol, a natural sweetener. After eating a meal or snack, chew the gum for roughly 20 minutes.
Eat a healthy diet
Your total health, including your oral health, depends on eating a good diet. Reduce your intake of foods and beverages that are high in sugar and acid. Sugary foods can cause tooth decay. Instead, choose nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
Dental sealants and fluoride treatments
Your teeth can be protected from tooth decay with the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants. To assist prevent cavities, your dentist may apply dental sealants, which are thin plastic coatings, to the chewing surfaces of your molars. Fluoride treatments might assist to strengthen your teeth. Moreover, it stops tooth decay. Attend routine dental checkups at a reputable dental care facility.
Drink plenty of water
The general health of your body as well as the health of your teeth both depend on drinking sufficient water. Cleaning your mouth with water can help remove bacteria and food particles. Moreover, it can aid in balancing the acid that can contribute to tooth decay. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water is preferred.
Visit your dentist regularly
The maintenance of proper oral hygiene includes regular dental visits. Any issues with your dental health can be found and treated by your dentist before they worsen. See your dentist for a cleaning at least once every six months.
Getting the Technique Right
Most people brush often enough. Fewer brush effectively, and the difference shows up as decay along the gumline and recession on the side you favour.
- Angle the brush at 45° to the gumline — not flat against the tooth. That is where plaque accumulates and where gum disease begins.
- Use small circular motions, not a horizontal scrub. Vigorous side-to-side brushing is a leading cause of gum recession and notched, sensitive necks of teeth.
- Ease off the pressure. Harder is not cleaner. If your bristles splay within a month, you are pressing too hard.
- Spit, don’t rinse. Rinsing with water immediately after brushing washes away the fluoride before it can work.
- Replace the brush every three months, and after any illness.
What Actually Happens at a Check-Up
A routine visit is largely diagnostic. We examine the teeth for early decay, chart gum pocket depths to detect disease before it becomes visible to you, check existing fillings and crowns for leakage, and screen the soft tissues. X-rays are taken where they will change the decision — not routinely. Most problems we find at this stage are still small, cheap and painless to fix; the same problems found two years later frequently are not.
When to Come In Sooner
Do not wait for your next scheduled visit if you notice bleeding gums that persist beyond two weeks of good cleaning, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the stimulus is removed, a tooth that has changed colour, persistent bad taste, a lump or ulcer that has not healed in two weeks, or any pain on biting. Sudden severe pain or facial swelling needs emergency dental care the same day — swelling that is spreading is not something to sleep on.
How often should I actually be seen?
Every six months suits most adults. Every three to four months is more appropriate if you have a history of gum disease, smoke, have diabetes, or build tartar quickly. Children benefit from the same six-monthly rhythm, partly to catch decay early and partly so dental visits stay unremarkable rather than frightening.
Ravi Kumar
MDS, CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY AND ENDODONTICS