Oral Hygiene At Home
Oral Hygiene is the practice of keeping your mouth clean. In between regular dental visits, maintain your beautiful healthy smile by taking good care of your teeth. Some tips for successful home oral care:
- Choose a soft toothbrush and replace it often
- Brush at least twice a day
- Use a fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily
- Use a tongue cleaner
- Add a therapeutic or antiseptic mouthwash to your routine
- Don’t smoke
- Cut back on sugary treats and drinks
- Drink more water
- Use your teeth only to chew food
- Protect your teeth from injury
- Be sure to brush before bed
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Good oral health is important to overall health. Brushing, flossing and mouth rinses are a win-win-win.
Proper brushing and flossing:
• Prevent tooth decay
• Prevent periodontal disease
• Prevent bad breath (halitosis)
• Prevent staining
Proper Brushing: Teeth should be brushed twice-a-day at minimum, and always just before bed. Choose a small soft toothbrush and replace it every three months. Holding the toothbrush at an angel, brush gently in a circular motion. Brush every surface of each tooth. Likewise, clean your tongue to remove fungi and food debris.
Proper Flossing: Flossing daily is an essential way to remove food particles from hard-to-reach areas between teeth. Flossing is important for removing plaque and preventing periodontal disease.
Cut a piece of floss about 20 inches long, and work the floss in a U-shape gently between your teeth toward the gum line, moving the floss up and down several times. Continue around each tooth. Choose a floss you like so you are more apt to floss on a daily basis.
Anti-bacterial Mouth Rinse: Finish the daily dental hygiene process with an anti-bacterial mouth rinse. Swish and rinse for about 30 seconds, and discard it (spit) gently into the sink. Do not swallow your mouthwash.