Maintaining good dental hygiene keeps your smile looking great and safeguards your teeth and gums. The following general dental hygiene guidelines can help you maintain a healthy smile:
- Try to brush your teeth twice a day, minimum. Make use of a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste. (Hard or medium bristles might erode the enamel of your teeth and gums.) Hold your toothbrush 45 degrees away from your gums when brushing. By doing this, bacteria and plaque along the gum line are removed. Make sure to brush every surface of your teeth, including the sides and backs.
- Floss once every day. Brushing is not enough to get into the crevices between your teeth. Dental floss is necessary to clean these areas. Take an eighteen-inch-long piece of floss. Encircle your middle fingers with each end. Position the floss between two teeth using your thumbs and forefingers. Snugly wrap the floss around one tooth in a C shape, then use around ten up and down strokes to clean it. Repeat after wrapping the floss around the other tooth. Apply this technique to every tooth in your mouth. You can also clean in between your teeth with dental picks and interproximal brushes if you have dexterity problems. (A word regarding water flossers: water flossers work great for getting rid of big food particles and debris, but they are unable to get rid of the biofilm that forms on your teeth's surfaces. Thus, make sure to use conventional dental floss in addition to your water flosser.)
- Brush your tongue. Like a sponge, microorganisms are stored on your tongue. Remember to clean your tongue after brushing your teeth. For this, you can use your toothbrush. Alternatively, you can buy a tongue scraper from the oral health section.
- Every day, use an antimicrobial mouthwash. Mouthwash with antibacterial properties aids in preventing oral bacteria. It not only removes food particles and trash but also lessens the accumulation of plaque. To avoid dry mouth, make sure the formula you select is alcohol-free.
- Steer clear of tobacco products and smoking. One of the main causes of oral cancer and gum disease is smoking. It is advisable to stay away from these goods completely. Ask your healthcare professional about helpful treatment choices if you smoke and would wish to stop.
Recall that the most effective dental hygiene regimen is one that you can maintain on a regular basis. Consult your dentist about a customized oral health program that suits your requirements.
