Helpful Advice for Oral Hygiene

You can have a healthy smile by maintaining good oral hygiene habits. A healthy smile is not just good for the oral cavity but also for physical and mental wellness. The bacteria in the mouth tends to increase easily, turning into plaque and causing issues like cavities and gum disease. This article contains helpful advice for good oral hygiene practices.

Oral hygiene tips

Some of the tips for keeping teeth clean and maintaining good oral health include:

Brush everyday

Brushing for at least two minutes twice daily using fluoride toothpaste is important for keeping teeth and gums clean. Brushing removes plaque from the mouth and stops it from accumulating and causing oral health issues. While at it, do not forget to brush the tongue because it tends to collect bacteria easily.

Start flossing

Brushing is not complete unless it is followed by interdental cleaning or flossing. Flossing cleans the areas between the teeth of bacteria and food debris and can be done with dental floss, water, or air flossers. Augmenting brushing with flossing leaves the mouth cleaner and fresher than brushing only.

Try not to rinse

After brushing with fluoride toothpaste, one might feel the need to rinse the mouth with water after spitting out the toothpaste. Rinsing the mouth removes the fluoride, which helps to fortify and remineralize the tooth enamel. Fluoride is a major ingredient in toothpaste and helps maintain oral health by making it less vulnerable to tooth decay.

Consider getting a mouthwash

Patients can improve their oral hygiene routines by including a fluoride mouthwash. Rinsing the mouth with a dental wash can stop plaque accumulation around the oral cavity surfaces, including the gums and teeth. The mouthwash should have antibacterial properties to remove the bacteria that cause bad breath. It should only be used as part of the oral hygiene routine and not to replace brushing and flossing. Mouthwash is a great option when brushing the teeth is not feasible.

Consume a healthy diet

Nutrition habits often have a significant impact on oral health. Eating snacks regularly may not seem like a big deal, but it affects the oral cavity, especially if they are sugary. Many people tend to skip regular meals and resort to sugary snacks instead. The leftover food debris from sugary snacks and drinks feeds oral bacteria and enables them to cause trouble in the mouth. For good oral health, limit the intake of alcohol and soda drinks as well.

Instead of starchy foods, patients are advised to eat more vegetables, fiber-rich fruits, and dairy products without sugar. Including more vitamins and healthy nutrients helps maintain good oral health.

Visit the dentist for an appointment

Your oral hygiene routine is not complete if you fail to visit the dentist regularly. During the appointment, the dentist will perform professional dental cleaning, which is more thorough than what patients do at home. They will also check for signs of oral health issues that might need attention. Dentists also teach proper oral hygiene techniques during those appointments.

Request an appointment here: https://www.roderickgarciadmd.com or call Roderick A. Garcia, DMD PC at (505) 634-5029 for an appointment in our Albuquerque office.

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