Necessity of Good Oral Hygiene

How good is your oral hygiene routine? It’s likely you clean your teeth every day, morning and night, but is that enough to keep your teeth and gums healthy? Check out some quality oral hygiene tips shared by the Dentist In Weybridge.

1. Significance of Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to maintain a healthy mouth, but did you know that oral health also contributes to your overall health in other ways?

The bacteria in your mouth is not a risk when at lower levels but failing to brush your teeth and floss regularly means these bacteria levels can potentially increase to damaging levels. Not only can this lead to gum disease and tooth decay, but there is also evidence linking increased oral bacteria with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Many of these associated health issues, including periodontal disease such as tooth decay, are chronic diseases which develop slowly over time. By making a few dedicated changes to your day-to-day routine, it is easy to form better habits which will maintain your well-being and protect your teeth for the future.

2. How to Maintain Good Oral Health

There are a number of steps to include in your daily routine which can prevent periodontal disease:

Make it a habit of brushing teeth before bed

By brushing your teeth every night, you are removing any bacteria, plaque and food debris which can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Make sure this is done after you’ve eaten your last meal or snack, which includes drinks and that water, is all you drink during the night.

Do proper brush

Even if you brush your teeth every night, it’s likely you don’t pay too much attention to how you brush them. Moving your brush in gentle circular motions, focus on cleaning all your teeth on the outside, followed by the inside.

Don’t avoid your tongue before brushing

The bacteria and plaque in your mouth are not only on your teeth but on your tongue as well. Brushing your tongue gently every time you clean your teeth helps reduce bacteria levels in your mouth. This will also prevent odour and bad breath.

Brush and floss twice a day

It is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day, and flossing is just as important. Your toothbrush can only reach a limited amount of the areas between the teeth, so flossing is the best way to clean the whole tooth.

Use mouthwash

Mouthwash is another way to clean the whole tooth, including the tongue and gums. It can be an excellent oral hygiene tool for those who find it difficult to brush and floss twice a day. There are a wide variety of mouthwash types, so it is advisable to talk to your dentist about what will suit your health needs.

Drink ample of water

By drinking water regularly, especially after a meal, the bacteria and plaque in your mouth can be partially rinsed away. This is not enough to keep your teeth clean on its own, but it can help prevent build-up between brushing.

Limit your acidic and sugar intake

The bacteria in your mouth produce acid by feeding on sugar and other carbohydrates you consume. Because increased levels of acid can slowly erode your tooth enamel, cutting down on both sugary items and acidic drinks can help prevent erosion.

Visit your dentists at least once in the six months

Checking in with your dentist every six months is the best thing you can do for your oral health. Many dental surgeries, such as Private and NHS Dentistry, can offer you a full check-up and give further advice on proper oral hygiene.

Oatlands Dental Lounge, committed to making every patient’s visit a comfortable and personalised as possible. We consider our dental team, our patients and their families to be valuable elements – when you become part of the Oatlands Dental Lounge family, you become a very important person!

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