The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene and How To Maintain It

Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. But not everyone is ready to do what it takes to achieve and maintain it. Nowadays, brushing and flossing is not really enough. True, they are the most effective ways of maintaining good oral hygiene, but only IF, they are done well and in the right manner.
You could be doing both every single day but still get gum diseases and tooth decay. Hence, it’s really important to know how to brush and floss correctly to avoid such dental problems.

Here is how to brush and floss correctly;

Brushing— Place the bristle toothbrush at 45° against the gum line and start moving it back and fourth on the outer, inner and chewing surface of the teeth. To combat bad breath and remove bacteria, brush your tongue. For a more effective teeth cleaning, try alternating manual and electric toothbrushes.

• Flossing – About 18 inches of floss would do comfortably and remember to take heed how to hold the floss. Wrap the floss around the two middle fingers and gently rub the floss between your teeth using your thumb and index finger. Glide the floss up and down on the side each tooth while keeping pressure against the teeth and not the gum.
• Apart from tooth decay and gum diseases, there are other serious consequences associated with poor oral health. They include;
• Heart disease – It is believed people with periodontitis (gum disease) are likely to have heart disease than those without. It is said, theoretically speaking, the bacteria from the mouth is channeled into the bloodstream.
• Diabetes – periodontal disease elevates blood sugar levels, which can be problematic for diabetic patients.
• Premature or low birth weight infants—it is believed that gum diseases may raise some chemicals that interfere with the fetus’ development. Hence, pregnant women with gum disease are advised to be treated immediately to avoid such complications.
• Lung complications – the two are connected in the sense that, the lungs inhale bacteria from the mouth leading to infections like pneumonia. Then again, if you have a pre-existing lung disease, periodontitis can worsen your condition.

It’s extremely important to practice good oral hygiene every day to avoid severe complications mentioned above.

How to maintain a healthy dental hygiene

1. Brush as illustrated above, twice a day
2. Floss at least once a day ( as shown above)
3. Use fluoride toothpaste
4. Limit sugary foods intake
5. Always wear protective gear when playing sports
6. Teeth are for chewing only. Do not use it to open bottles
7. Limit beverages and foods with high levels of acid. E.g. sodas, coffee, cocoa
8. Visit your dentist for regular check-ups

Still got some questions to discuss with the dentist about good oral hygiene? Visit Pearl Dental Care in Mississauga, ON to get your answers on how to maintain good oral hygiene.