Poor oral hygiene can give rise to various dental and health complications such as infection, bone loss, gum disease, stroke, heart disease, and much more. But proper cleaning and regular checkups can help prevent these issues and give you good oral hygiene.
Here are seven ideas to help you maintain excellent oral hygiene.
1. Brush Your Mouth Properly
Your mouth is composed of your teeth, gums, the roof of your mouth, and tongue. When brushing, set the toothbrush bristles at a 45-degree angle next to the gum line so the bristles come into contact with the gums and the teeth. Ensure you brush using up and down and back and forth movements. Afterwards, repeat this process for the inner surfaces of the gums and teeth.
Also, ensure you brush the surfaces of the tongue and roof of the mouth. Doing this helps eliminate bacteria that are responsible for causing bad breath. Remember, brush your teeth and gums gently; avoid attacking them with the bristles as this can hurt your mouth.
Brush the mouth at least twice a day, especially in the morning and evening, to prevent a build-up of acid produced by bacteria that break down the food particles in your mouth. But if the nature of your activities or work prevents you from accomplishing this, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after meals to reduce the amount of food that may act as substrates for bacteria.
2. Floss Regularly
Although brushing is essential, it is not holistic in cleaning your teeth. Brushing cleans the surface of the teeth but cannot efficiently deal with the areas between the teeth. This is why flossing is vital. It helps eliminate harmful substances and food residue stuck between the teeth. Thus, for a good oral hygiene, floss at least once a day using a piece of floss measuring at least 18 inches long. This will help you use a new area of floss after every few teeth to avoid reinserting the bacteria you have removed. Remember, the floss should stroke the teeth in a forward and backward “C-shaped” motion. Ensure the floss wraps well around each tooth.
3. Avoid Tobacco
Tobacco is something you should shun. Avoiding it can protect you from periodontal problems such as oral cancer. Also, some of the things you take to mask the tobacco smell such as chewing gum, coffee, tea, and sweets, always end up increasing the damage to your teeth that has been done by the tobacco.
4. Limit Alcohol, Soda, and Coffee
Although these drinks contain a high phosphorous level, which is an essential mineral for a healthy mouth, excess phosphorous can exhaust the body’s calcium level. This has been known to cause numerous dental hygiene issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. Drinks containing additives such as food dye and corn syrup can cause your pearly white teeth to appear discolored and dull. Thus, choose drinks such as milk, which will help build stronger enamel and strengthen your teeth, making your smile healthy and beautiful, and the water content will hydrate your body much longer than sugary drinks.
5. Get Some Fluoride in Your Mouth Before Going to Bed
Fluoride makes your teeth stronger, so you don’t need to wash it off after brushing your teeth. It may not be ideal for many people to carry the toothpaste residue in the mouth throughout the day since you may swallow it as the day goes. So, you may not do this after brushing your teeth in the morning while getting ready for school or work. However, you can do it at night before going to bed since it is convenient. Let the fluoride sit on the surface of the teeth by avoiding rinsing off the toothpaste with water after brushing the teeth.
6. Drink Lots of Water
Apart from being crucial for your overall health, water enhances the production of saliva, which is vital for healthy teeth. Water is better and healthier for your teeth than sugary beverages such as soda. Bacteria in the mouth use the excess sugar to form plaque, which if you don’t combat, can result in tooth decay. However, drinking lots of water helps get rid of these sugars and acids, keeping your mouth healthy and neutral.
7. Have Regular Dental Checkups
Regular visits to your dentist are beneficial. Doctors recommend a dental exam at least twice a year. Some of the advantages of these visits include oral cancer and gum disease detection, plaque removal, and teeth whitening. Your dental specialist will examine your mouth for any signs of disease and will advise you on how to take care of your oral hygiene. In case of any issues, your dentist will address them before they escalate to bigger problems.
Good oral hygiene is imperative for good overall health. Thus, brush your mouth correctly; floss regularly; avoid tobacco, and have regular dental checkups to maintain excellent oral health.
