Good oral hygiene includes brushing your teeth regularly, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly. Listed below are some tips that can help you achieve good oral hygiene.
Brush Your Teeth Regularly
You should brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. While it can be tempting to brush for only a minute or less, the longer, the better! Even flossing can be easy to rush through, but taking the time to do it properly is well worth it. You can easily improve your oral health by committing to your dental care routine every day.
Floss Daily
Flossing removes plaque from between your teeth that your toothbrush can't reach. Therefore, it's important to floss daily to remove harmful bacteria and other debris that can cause gum disease and cavities. Gum disease has been linked to a number of serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. So always brush at least twice daily and floss once a day for a healthy mouth!
In addition to removing bacteria and food particles from between the teeth, flossing can also help prevent bad breath. Bacteria found in the mouth can cause bad breath. When you floss, you remove the bacteria that cause the odor before it can circulate through your mouth.
Rinse WithaMouthwash
After brushing and flossing, rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate any remaining bacteria from your mouth. Some mouthwashes contain fluoride to help strengthen your teeth and prevent tooth decay as well.
Brushing and flossing don't always reach every surface of the teeth, so it's important to use an antimicrobial mouthwash to protect your oral health. The fluoride in your mouthwash can also help strengthen your teeth and help prevent decay.
Avoid Tobacco and Chewing Tobacco Products
Smoking and chewing tobacco can stain your teeth and impair your ability to form blood clots after oral surgery. This can cause excessive bleeding and even interfere with the healing process. So, quit the use of tobacco.
Also, do not drink alcohol excessively. Alcohol dehydrates the body and draws toxins out of the system. Similarly, tobacco use causes a person to lose minerals and vitamins from their body. Both of these factors can lead to dry mouth and increase the risk of cavities and bad breath.
When using alcohol or tobacco, be sure to drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and replenish your vitamin and mineral levels. Brush and floss regularly to reduce the effects of dry mouth.
Schedule Regular Check-Ups with Your Dentist
One of the most important things you can do for your oral health is to schedule regular check-ups at your dentist's office. These visits are important because they allow the dentist to thoroughly examine your teeth and check for any signs of decay, disease, or infection. These appointments also provide you the opportunity to have a professional cleaning so that any plaque buildup can be removed from your teeth. This is important because plaque buildup can eventually turn into cavities if left untreated.
In addition to scheduling regular check-ups with your dentist, you should also practice proper at-home oral care to prevent tooth decay and other problems.
To learn more, call (480) 461-9944 and schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Baker.
