Dental Hygiene: Five Easy Steps to Have Healthy and Bright Teeth for Life
Dental Hygiene means to follow a regular maintenance regime to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. It is basically to prevent any dental problems by following methodical daily routine of caring for your mouth, which includes:
A� Brushing your teeth with good toothpaste, preferably with fluoride, at least twice a day.
A� Flossing your teeth daily.
A� Rinse your mouth with a good antiseptic mouth wash daily.
A� Avoid high intake of sweet and sugary food.
A� Do not use tobacco and quit or limit smoking.
A� Regular visits to your dentist.
These visits should take place after every six months. Your doctor will examine your teeth, perform professional cleaning such as “scale or polish”, take x-rays to diagnose any problems and provide treatment.
Brushing:
It is recommended to brush your teeth after every meal or at minimum twice a day. That’s how plaque and tarter do not build up on teeth. Plaque is the white material comprised of bacteria. When it is combined with sugar, it harms enamel (covering layer of teeth that saves them from decaying). Tarter is hardened plaque, which is brown or yellow in color. It roughens teeth surface, hence, more plaque is deposited. Tarter formation can also lead to gingivitis and periodontal gum disease.
Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste also keeps your teeth clean and white. You can ask your doctor to suggest a suitable tooth brush for you according to your dental makeup and needs. For example people who smoke may require a toothbrush with hard bristles. See our line of Dental Care products
Flossing:
Flossing helps in eliminating any food particles stuck between the teeth. Spaces between teeth are more prone to plaque buildup because normal brush cannot reach there. Flossing is the only way to remove food particles from these places. Floss, made up of soft thread or thin plastic ribbon is easily available in the market.
Using Mouthwash:
Mouthwashes, especially, antiseptic mouthwashes, such as Listerine can help remove bacteria that produce plaque. These bacteria can cause tooth decay, dental cavities, bad breath, and sore throat. Mouth washes also freshen up breath, cure halitosis and prevent the condition of “dry mouth” by lubricating your mouth.
Mouth washes can be bought over the counter or can only be prescribed by the doctor for oral conditions such as gingivitis or other gum diseases. You can visit our store to select suitable dental cleaning product for yourself.
Controlling Diet:
Foods, that are rich in sugar, produce oils that can be harmful for the teeth. These oils encourage bacterial activity and help in formation of plaque. Restricting their intake can reduce the chances of facing dental problems.
Visiting Dentist:
Frequent visits to the doctor can help in diagnosing and treating potential problems early on. Your dentist may also perform “dental clean” to keep your gums and teeth healthy. Dental clean is to “scale and polish” the teeth. It involves removing plaque and tarter from your teeth and smoothing them out. Then as additional protection measure, fluoride can be applied to the teeth.
All the above measures are useful for maintaining your dental health. Following dental hygiene regimen from an early age can keep your teeth healthy and intact even later in your age and thus can save you a lot of trouble of going through painful and costly dental treatments.