If you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you must practice excellent oral hygiene. The practice entails brushing your teeth twice a day and having regular dental checkups. However, research reveals oral health is about more than merely gum disease and cavities. There is an undisputed association between your mouth and your oral health.
When left untreated, tooth decay and gum disease lead to pain, problems with self-confidence, and tooth loss eventually. The issues also contribute to malnutrition, speech problems, and other challenges in your work, school, or personal life.
You can comfortably prevent the problems mentioned above by practicing excellent dental care at home and in the dentist’s office. Learn about some best practices helpful for keeping your teeth and gums healthy from this blog.
What Are the Best Practices We Suggest for Optimal Oral Health?
Brushing Daily: Techniques for Effective Cleaning Without Aggression
It is essential to brush your teeth twice daily as one of the vital practices of oral hygiene near youfor plaque and bacteria removal and keeping your teeth clean. However, it helps to understand you must adopt the correct technique for brushing to be effective.
You must brush your teeth using small circular motions, ensuring you brush the front, back, and top of every tooth. The process requires about two to three minutes, avoiding the sawing back-and-forth motions. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush or brushing aggressively can damage your tooth enamel and gums. The damages may cause sensitivity and permanent damage to the protective enamel on the teeth besides gum erosion. You must use a soft-bristled toothbrush as recommended by the ADA and replace it every three-month or whenever the bristles appear frayed.
The Role of Fluoride: How It Strengthens Your Teeth and Prevents Decay
Fluoride is a natural mineral available from the soil and called fluorine, and some people, for unknown reasons, do not use it. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and is a familiar ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. However, the lack of fluoride leads to tooth decay even if you take care of your teeth, as suggested by the dentist near Bayside.
Flossing at Least Once a Day: The Key to Removing Plaque and Food Particles
Oral Hygiene in Bayside, NY, recommends flossing at least once a day for plaque and bacteria removal from between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing also prevents bad breath by removing food particles and debris trapped between the teeth. Dental professionals suggest pushing the floss gently right down to the gum line before hugging the tooth’s sides with up and down motions. Snapping the floss up and down between the teeth is better avoided as it can cause pain and is inefficient for plaque removal effectively.
Importance of Regular Dental Visits: Why You Should See Your Dentist Frequently
Oral hygiene near Bayside recommends that you see your dentist every six months for a checkup. During routine dental exams, hygienists clean the teeth to remove plaque and hardened tartar. The dentist checks for visual signs of cavities and gum disease, mouth cancer, and other oral health issues. Dentists also use x-rays to check for cavities between the teeth.
Recent studies confirm children and adolescents must see their dentist every six months as a preventive measure against cavities. However, adults practicing excellent oral hygiene daily with a lower risk of oral health problems can schedule less frequent visits.
Avoiding Smoking: The Impact of Tobacco on Oral Health and Hygiene
Smoking is harmful to the body’s immune system making it difficult for the body to heal tissues, including tissues in the mouth. Smoking is also a risk for gum disease, and the American Dental Association has warned that smokers may experience slower healing times after any dental procedure. In addition, smoking affects the appearance of the mouth because it causes yellowing of the teeth and tongue besides causing bad breath.
Consider a Mouthwash: Benefits for Fresh Breath
Mouthwashes are beneficial for oral hygiene—for example, mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine help control plaque and gingivitis. Mouthwashes containing essential oils are also effective because they help with bad breath and other dental problems.
Limiting Sugary Foods and Starches: How Your Diet Affects Your Dental Health
Sugar consumption is the leading cause of cavities. The WHO recommends you limit your sugar intake to under 10 percent of your daily calories. Sugar is the leading cause of cavities besides starches like crackers, bread, and chips resulting in tooth decay. These foods linger in the mouth to break down into simple sugars on which acid-producing bacteria feed. Acid is the primary culprit of tooth decay. Oral hygiene 11361 recommends having plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and dairy products without added sugar to maintain excellent dental health.
Practicing excellent oral hygiene helps keep your teeth and gums healthy from infancy well into your older years. Begin practicing proper oral hygiene right away if you have been neglecting your dental health for any reason.
