Are you looking for oral hygiene tips to improve the health of your mouth?
Oh, you might be tired of shutting your lips whenever a photographer asks to say “cheese”.
You feel shame when your mouth shows signs of gum disease, bad breath, discolored teeth or broken teeth because it affects your appearance and self-confidence.
The good news is that you can prevent feeling like this by learning how to take proper care of your oral hygiene, as part of our how to be hygienic guide.
How would you feel if you knew more ways of taking care of your oral hygiene than just brushing teeth or flossing?
Following is a list of oral hygiene tips, facts, and tricks that will help you to improve your mouth’s health, both done at home and in the dentist’s office.
Oral hygiene tips, tricks, and facts
The mouth cleaning process includes such activities as cleaning your teeth, gums, and tongue. Also, it includes the habit of eating healthy food and avoiding habits that are harmful for teeth's health.
1. Teeth brushing facts and tips
Why brushing your teeth?
Teeth brushing removes food debris from the teeth and prevents the formation of dental plaque and calculus.
What is dental plaque?
Dental plaque is a thin bio-film that is created from bacteria stuck to the teeth and gums.
If dental plaque is not removed from the teeth regularly, it slowly converts into tartar, which develops gum infections, dental cavities, and other oral diseases.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, which helps to prevent the appearance of teeth cavities by making the enamel more resistant to acid attacks.
How many times to brush your teeth per day?
Brush your teeth at least two times a day - once, in the morning and the second time before bedtime.
If your breath has gone wild after having a meal or food stuck between the teeth, feel free to brush your teeth.
The brushing technique:
How to choose the right type of toothbrush?
Choose a toothbrush with a small head because it reaches much easier to the back teeth.
Besides that, make sure the bristles are not too hard, which can wear off the enamel while brushing.
Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Which should come first: brushing or flossing?
Don’t you think that interdental cleaning before brushing is more efficient?
After cleaning the area in between your teeth, teeth brushing may be more efficient at removing plaque.
Use interdental brushes, dental floss, air flossers to loosen bacteria, plaque and remove food debris from between teeth.
2. Flossing tips
Brushing may clean the surface of the teeth but the toothbrush can’t reach the plaque and bacteria in the tight spaces between the teeth.
This is where flossing comes in.
It helps to get rid of the food residue and bacteria that stuck between the teeth.
The flossing technique:
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth.
Gently, rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss in up and down motions.
Take it one tooth at a time.
Or, use interdental cleaning tools such as dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes, or water flossers.
3. Use a mouthwash
Homemade or commercial mouthwashes aim to reduce the amount of acid in the mouth.
Some of them are more efficient than others depending on the ingredients used in the mouthwash.
However, as a stand-alone activity, a mouthwash can’t substitute brushing and flossing. It is a great complement practice, which helps at reducing bad breath and keep your mouth clean.
4. Eat healthier food that cleans your teeth
A lot of tasty food is not healthy for your teeth.
Foods containing sugar cause bacteria in the mouth to produce acids.
By eating rich in fiber healthy food, you may reduce the level of acids in your mouth. Try eating more nuts, fruits like apples and vegetables like carrots.
Limit the consumption of sodas and sugary juices. Too much of these can deplete the calcium from the body weakening your teeth.
5. Drink more water
Instead of consuming sugary drinks replace them with drinking clean distilled water.
6. Visit a dentist regularly
You can’t identify most of the dental problems alone.
A dentist may find oral hygiene outbreaks and treat them at their earliest stage of development.
Such a preventive approach to your teeth’s health may save you time and money in the long run.
Preventive check-ups and dental treatments don’t cost much when compared to the price of dental crowns, dental implants, and others.
Visit a dentist for cleanings and checkup twice a year. He can also give you tailored advice how to take better care of your teeth at home.
