A Guide To Maintaining Oral Hygiene And Dental Health
Maintaining oral hygiene and dental health is an important part of living a well-rounded and healthy life. Here's why it's so important
Having a great smile has nothing to do with luck! People walking around with that million-dollar smile put time and effort into maintaining their oral hygiene and health, which in turn leads to that perfect set of teeth that all of us desire so much.
What most don’t realize is that you don’t always need to buy expensive products or have procedures done to keep your smile looking fresh. This guide contains vital tips and steps which you can take to ensure your smile always looks amazing and your oral hygiene and health are always at optimum!
Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
Brushing your teeth twice a day is advice that we have all heard from our dentists at one point or another, and that just means it’s all the more important! A significant amount of plaque builds up throughout the day with the food that you eat and your mouth gets filled with millions of bacteria and germs. Brushing at night gets rid of all the plaque, bacteria, and germs, preventing the plaque from solidifying and the germs and bacteria from causing further serious issues like oral infections.
Brushing in the morning is just as vital, if not for the health reasons, then for the fact that nobody wants to smell the funk coming out of your mouth after a full night of drooling on your pillow. So, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day every day!
Brushing Technique
It’s not just important that you brush your teeth twice a day, but you also need to ensure that you are using the correct technique in doing so. Not doing so virtually makes no difference to your overall oral hygiene and health and, at most, you’ll have gotten rid of the odor from your mouth.
When you’re brushing your teeth make sure you reach every single tooth and clean in a gentle circular motion. You also need to gently scrub your tongue and plaque can also build upon the tongue, leading to issues such as bad breath and tongue infections.
Always Use A Fluoride Toothpaste
Regardless of what brand, color, flavor, or purpose you want when it comes to your toothpaste, you must always ensure that it has fluoride. Fluoride is extremely effective and not only does it only help in preventing tooth decay, but it also acts as a shield for your teeth against plaque, germs, and bacteria. The debate on fluoride’s effect on overall health continues to be argued, with some eccentrics going as far as suggesting that it has mind-controlling properties, one cannot deny that it truly is effective when it comes to oral hygiene and health.
Flossing
Flossing is just as important, if not more so than brushing. Flossing isn’t just to get rid of food that’s stuck between your teeth, but also because it helps reduce plaque and lowers inflammation of the gums. Also, the physical activity stimulates the gums promoting blood flow and keeping the immune system in the mouth working properly. Also, since you’re cleaning out the pockets between your gums, which are breeding grounds for bacteria and germs, your mouth truly stays clean and the risk for infection and bad odours is significantly reduced.
While you should floss every day, if the process is too cumbersome then you should do it every two days at the very least. If the conventional flossing method annoys you with having to break the string off and getting the grip right, you can buy ready-to-use dental flossers from drug stores and reduce the hassle.
Mouthwash Isn’t An Alternative To Brushing
There is no denying that mouthwash has many advantages and is effective in preventing oral health issues. However, it shouldn’t be confused as an alternative to brushing and flossing, which many seem to do on a regular basis. Mouthwash is to be used as a supplement, which helps in mineralizing your teeth and neutralize the pH levels in your mouth.
Water Is Life
Water truly has a multitude of health benefits and its effect on oral health should not go unnoticed. Regularly drinking water can keep your mouth clean and helps in slowly flushing out food and sticky substances (like sugar) from hard to reach areas. Dentists recommend that you drink one glass of water, at least, after meals and snacks.
Watch What You Eat
Ready-to-eat foods and snacks are not good for your teeth and overall oral hygiene. Organic foods, especially fruits and crunchy vegetables, are great though and maintaining a regular diet of such food can contribute greatly to the perfect smile. The nutrients in these foods help balance pH levels in the mouth and the crunchiness in the vegetable help in strengthening the teeth and gums leading to improved oral health and hygiene.
In contrast, you should avoid food that is too sugary or acidic. Sugar can convert to acid and cause issues like cavities and tooth decay whereas acidic food such as coffee slowly wears down the enamel on your teeth causing issues such as sensitivity.
Regularly Visit Your Dentist
Regardless of how impeccable you are when it comes to oral hygiene and health, visiting the dentist at least twice a year is a must. If you’re going to go to your general physician for a periodical check-up then you should take the same approach with your dentist and have your teeth and mouth checked on a regular basis. After all, your mouth and teeth are as much a part of your body as your heart and stomach.
Dentists like Smile Eden Prairie help not only with medical-grade cleaning and maintenance of teeth and mouth, but they can also spot any other potential issues that you might face. Having medical advice especially when it comes to prevention of a serious problem can make all the difference in the world.
