Dental hygiene involves taking care of your mouth and teeth to ensure that your smile looks good and your breath is fresh. Healthy teeth function better by making it possible to eat and speak without difficulty. They will also influence your overall well-being.
When you practice good dental hygiene:
- Your teeth will always be clean and free of plaque buildup
- The appearance of your gums will be a healthy pink color
- Your gums will not hurt or bleed when you brush your teeth or floss them
- You will not suffer from constant bad breath
If your gums are painful, if they bleed when you brush and floss, or if you experience redness, swelling and bad breath, this could be a sign of the onset of gingivitis and you should see a dentist before the problem gets worse.
Your dentist will not only offer treatment options but he’s also a key resource for oral hygiene education.
You can practice good dental hygiene by doing the following:
Brush your teeth properly
You should brush your teeth daily without fail. This will prevent plaque from building up and will also stop acids and enzymes from food from corroding your teeth. If you can’t brush after a meal, rinse out your mouth with warm water and use mouth rinse.
Floss
Flossing will remove food particles that are trapped in between your teeth. Brushing alone will not eliminate plaque buildup as your toothbrush cannot reach in between your teeth, therefore, you should floss at least once daily.
Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco
Smoking is a leading cause of teeth staining, bad breath, oral cancer and periodontal disease. Most of the products used to mask the effects of tobacco such as bad smell also result in more teeth complications and this increases the amount smoking-related damage.
Avoid drinking carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages
When you drink too much soda, you’ll end up ingesting a high amount of phosphorous and high levels of phosphorus in the body will cause your calcium levels to deplete. This in turn causes gum disease and tooth decay. Replace these drinks with water and milk.
Increase your consumption of vitamins and calcium
Foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin D and B will improve your dental health. Healthy foods such as green leafy vegetables will contain zinc, iron, copper and potassium, all of which will enhance your dental hygiene.
Schedule regular visits to the dentist
Another important practice that will promote your dental hygiene is visiting your dentist at least two times a year for a full dental examination and appropriate treatment.
Always use mouthwash
When choosing mouthwash, you should ensure it contains the active ingredient that kills bacteria. Mouthwash alone will not ensure good dental hygiene and you should use it in addition to brushing and flossing.
See a dentist at the first sign of trouble
As soon as you notice any problems with your teeth, mouth or gums, visit a dentist.
Get the necessary dental procedures
Some dental procedures that improve the aesthetic appeal of your teeth are also designed to improve functionality of your teeth and promote overall dental health and hygiene.
Always keep your tongue clean
Failing to clean your tongue will cause countless bacteria to build up on it and cause bad breath.
