Good oral hygiene means you have a mouth that looks great and has no bad smell. A healthy mouth should have clean teeth, pink gums that do not hurt while brushing or flossing, and no bad breath. If you have any of this you should consult a dentist in Greensboro NC for good practices.
How can you practice a good oral hygiene? Bactria lives in your mouth in the form of plaque, which can cause cavities and gingivitis. Brushing and flossing helps remove plaque, while flossing helps to prevent gum disease. One of the most important is you need to brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed. You need to brush your teeth at least for 3 minutes, use a timer to make sure you spend 3 minutes brushing your teeth. To keep your breath fresh and to reduce the plaque in your mouth you can chew unsweetened gum during the day in between the meals.
Saliva dries up during the night, which is used to keep plaque off teeth. That is why brushing when you first wake up cleans off any buildup. Brushing before you go to bed will ensure all plaque is gone.
Change your toothbrush every two to three months to ensure bacteria is not being stored. Use a soft bristle brush, not a hard one. Make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Cleaning your tongue once a day with a tongue scraper will remove tongue plaque and help bad breath. Foods that are firm or crisp will clean your teeth while you eat. This can include apples, raw carrots, celery and popcorn. Eating these at the end of a meal will act as nature’s toothbrush. Some people say gargling with apple cider vinegar before brushing will help remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria.
If you want to help whiten your teeth, try brushing with baking soda once a week, or salt once a week. The baking soda will help remove stains and the salt will help your gums. If you use a mouthwash, make sure it is alcohol-free. Alcohol in mouthwash dries out the tissues, which makes them more susceptible to bacteria.
Flossing your teeth is very important, making sure you clean between the gum and each tooth. Hold the floss tightly against each tooth, rubbing the side of the tooth and move the floss away from the gum with an up and down motion. Repeat this on each tooth. There should be no bleeding during flossing, if there is there may be gum problems that should be looked at by a dentist.
Children under 12 should drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement to make sure they have enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Make sure to check the water in your area to see if it contains fluoride or not, as this will effect using a supplement or not.
Good oral practice is one of the most important things to do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth make you look good, feel good, allow you to eat properly, and also speak. Practicing good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist will help in a healthy mouth and greatly reduce the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.