Adequate oral hygiene is crucial for healthy gums and teeth. Besides, it makes it easy to eat properly and enjoy your meals. Proper oral hygiene includes flossing, brushing and visiting your doctor regularly for cleaning and dental exams. Preventative dentistry guarantees you the best opportunity for long-lasting oral health and a beautiful smile. This article provides you with essential tips for maintaining oral hygiene.

Oral Hygiene: What is it and Why is it Important?

Oral hygiene involves the practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free. This practice is usually a preventative care technique as you can limit the occurrence of health problems like bad breath, gum disease and cavities.

Consequently, oral health significantly influences the whole body’s health. For instance, an infection in your mouth is transferred to your bloodstream, which can carry it to other body parts. Thus, you might develop health complications such as stroke and heart disease. Therefore, keeping your gums and teeth healthy is essential for long-lasting overall health.

Essential Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene

Floss Once Per Day

Typically, you cannot reach the spaces between your teeth from brushing alone. For this reason, you need to utilize dental floss to remove any particles that might have stuck there. While many types of dental floss are available, ensure you guide the floss properly in about ten down and up strokes. This process should be repeated for every tooth, ensuring you eliminate all dirt around them.

Brush Your Teeth at Least Twice Per Day

This is one of the popular ways of maintaining good oral health hygiene. For maximum results, you should utilize a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Note that hard and medium toothbrush bristles can damage your enamel and gums. When brushing, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards your gums to help sweep away bacteria and plaque from the gum line.

Also, remember to utilize the best dental appliance cleaner for your dental appliances like aligners, dentures and retainers.

Brush Your Tongue

This is one of the most forgotten parts of the mouth when doing oral hygiene. Like a sponge, your tongue holds bacteria; thus, you should never forget to brush it. While you can use a toothbrush, you can buy a tongue scraper for better results.

Visit Your Dentist Frequently

When was the last time you visited a dentist for an oral checkup? Routine oral cleaning and exams are crucial for great oral health. Usually, you should see the dentist after every six months. However, if you are prone to oral health complications such as gum disease or cavities, you may require more frequent visits.

Avoid Smoking and Other Tobacco Products

Smoking is a leading cause of oral cancer and gum disease; thus, you must avoid these products. If you find quitting smoking challenging, you must talk to your doctor for professional help.

Use an Antibacterial Mouthwash Daily

Using an antibacterial mouthwash helps keep harmful oral bacteria at bay. While you might be flossing and brushing your teeth regularly, this might not be enough. Antibacterial mouthwash helps minimize plaque build-up while washing away food and debris.

Remember, the mouthwash you select should be an alcohol-free formula to avoid a dry mouth.