Beyond brushing your teeth twice a day, you might not think much about oral hygiene basics. However, the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults are gum disease and tooth decay, which are both caused by poor oral hygiene. Oral hygiene basics, such as proper tooth brushing and flossing, can help prevent these conditions and many other common dental problems.
Dental care is available at Smile Solutions in Pittsburg and the surrounding area. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
The Importance Of Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral health is important for several reasons. First, oral health problems like gum disease can cause health problems in other parts of the body, including heart disease. It is especially important for pregnant women to take good care of their oral health: Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Â
It is hard to overstate the importance of good oral hygiene. Even for those who brush and floss their teeth properly, it is worth reviewing oral hygiene habits occasionally to make sure they are doing everything properly. Good oral hygiene involves consistent daily habits, the right products, and regular appointments with a dentist. In addition, some family members, such as children and the elderly, may need special help with their oral hygiene.
Â
Most patients will require a regular dental cleaning at least once every six months. This cleaning removes any bacteria and tartar that have accumulated between the teeth and gums. Patients with gum disease may require a deep cleaning, also known as root scaling and planing, to remove larger amounts of bacteria and tartar buildup.
- Oral health problems such as gum disease can cause health problems in other parts of the body, including heart disease.
How To Properly Brush Teeth
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people brush their teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. Brushing is crucial for removing plaque and bacteria buildup, which can both lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Poor brushing is almost as bad as not brushing at all. In order to remove bacteria and plaque, teeth need to be brushed for at least two minutes. Take the time to move the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions, and make sure to clean all the surfaces of the teeth.
Proper flossing is also integral to a good oral hygiene routine. According to Healthline, patients should use 18 to 24 inches of dental floss, winding most of it around both middle fingers. Only about one to two inches of floss should be reserved for the teeth. Floss should be held taut between the thumbs and index fingers before being placed between the teeth. It should then be gently glided up and down. Patients should curve the floss at the base of the tooth, forming a C shape. A new, clean section of floss should be used for each tooth.
The mouth is full of bacteria. Proper brushing and flossing can keep these bacteria under control and keep them from causing any damage. But if hours or days pass between brushings, the bacteria can build up. When left in place too long, the bacteria start attacking the teeth.
- The mouth is full of bacteria. Proper brushing and flossing can keep these bacteria under control and keep them from causing any damage.
What To Include In A Dental Care Routine
A dental care routine will depend on the individual’s current oral health needs, but in general, most routines should include the following:
Brushing
Everyone should brush their teeth twice a day with a dentist-recommended toothbrush and toothpaste. The right toothbrush should have soft bristles to prevent damage to the gums and tooth enamel. When brushing, use a small, pea-sized amount of toothpaste and move the brush against the teeth in a gentle circular motion. Move the toothbrush along the rows of the teeth at a 45-degree angle to brush at the gum line as well. Dental professionals recommend brushing for about two minutes. Make sure to get the top and bottom rows, as well as all surfaces of the teeth.
Flossing
After brushing the surface of the teeth, everyone needs to floss to clean the spaces between their teeth. Flossing should be done at least once a day to remove anything that may have gotten stuck between the teeth and reduce the possibility of buildup. To floss, hold a piece of dental floss tightly between the hands with the thumb and index finger. Gently slide the floss up and down between the teeth, curving it at the base of each tooth to get beneath the gum line.
Rinsing
After flossing, everyone should rinse with a dentist-approved mouthwash. Most mouthwashes will contain a small amount of fluoride to help keep the teeth healthy between regular dental checkups. Depending on the circumstances, the dentist may make a recommendation. Some people may need a mouthwash to help with bad breath, dry mouth, or gum disease. To rinse, follow the guidelines on the mouthwash bottle. Typically, this means using a small amount of mouthwash poured into a clean cup to swish around the mouth for about a minute before spitting it out.
- A dental care routine will depend on current oral health needs.
How To Keep The Smile Healthy & Prevent Tooth Decay
Following a dental hygiene routine with at-home care and regular dental checkups will help keep the smile healthy and prevent tooth decay, but other things can be done as well. Certain foods and drinks, such as sodas and sugary sweets, can put the teeth at risk. The ingredients in these food items can attack the enamel on the teeth and weaken it, making them more susceptible to bacteria and decay.
Rather than eating and drinking sugary or acidic substances, everyone should try things like cheese, fruits, vegetables, and green and black teas. Cheese can combat erosion of the enamel, high-fiber fruits and vegetables can stimulate saliva production to help remove particles from the teeth, and certain teas combat bacteria that cause plaque. Plus, these healthy food items are good for the body, too, so while they are protecting the smile from tooth decay, they can give the body the nutrition it deserves.
- Following a dental hygiene routine with at-home care and regular dental checkups will help you keep your smile healthy and prevent tooth decay.
Preventing Tooth Decay
In addition to regular brushing and flossing, other good habits that help prevent tooth decay include eating a healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and keeping toothbrushes clean.
Eat Foods That Promote Good Oral Health
Some foods can help clean teeth and fight plaque buildup. For example, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables can help keep teeth and gums clean. They also help increase the flow of saliva, which is important for washing away bacteria. In addition, saliva helps reduce the effects of the acids that attack teeth. It also contains trace amounts of the minerals calcium and phosphate, which can help restore areas of the teeth that have been damaged by acid.
Calcium-rich foods such as cheese and other dairy products can also help restore minerals to teeth. Also, drink black and green tea, as these contain compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Chewing sugarless gum can also help increase saliva production and help remove food particles from between teeth.
Keep Toothbrushes Clean
When finished brushing, rinse any residue off the toothbrush. Set the toothbrush upright and allow it to air-dry. Keeping the toothbrush in a cabinet or enclosed container can promote bacterial growth. Replace the toothbrush every three months. Replace it sooner if the bristles become bent or frayed. If the bristles are bent, it could mean that the brushing is too hard.
Do not share a toothbrush with anyone. While sharing the toothbrush of a significant other might seem as harmless as kissing, health-wise, the two are very different. When kissing, it is mostly saliva that is shared. However, when sharing a toothbrush, bacteria and viruses from the other person are introduced into the bloodstream. This can be harmful to overall health, especially if the other person has gingivitis or gum disease.
- Limiting the consumption of sugary foods and drinks can help prevent tooth decay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quality Dental Services Can Transform Your Smile
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
Dental Terminology
Dental caries are also known as cavities and result from a lack of proper oral hygiene, leaving plaque that forms tiny holes in the teeth.
A dental checkup is an appointment that involves cleaning the teeth, identifying any signs of infection, and removing said signs of infection at least once every six months in the office.
A dental filling involves restoring the structure of the tooth by using metal, alloy, porcelain or plastic to fill the tooth.
A dental prophylaxis is a professional and detailed cleaning that involves the removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.
Dental sealants contain a resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Gingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth, and poor oral hygiene.
Tartar forms when plaque builds up on the surface of the teeth and calcifies into a hard surface that is much more difficult to remove and will require professional treatment.
Tooth enamel is the protective visible outer surface of a tooth that contains the dentin and dental pulp.
Call Us Today
Before scheduling an appointment, be sure to make notes of any current at-home oral hygiene routines to be able to talk to the dental team about how to improve them. Scheduling an appointment and following through with dental checkups is a great start to a lifetime of healthy smiles. When scheduling a dental appointment, take this time to make the dental team aware of any concerns and tell them if they need to take any steps to make the experience more enjoyable. To schedule an appointment, call us today!