5 Best Practices in Oral Care
Maintaining good oral health isn’t complicated, but it does require routine care. At your Fuquay-Varina dentists, Hamby Family Dental Center, we have five best practices in oral care you can easily follow. If you adhere to these best practices, you will stay ahead of the game in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Oral Care Defined
Oral care, also known as oral hygiene, is the practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free. It involves brushing and flossing your teeth as well as visiting your dentist regularly for bi-annual dental exams, dental X-rays, and cleanings.
Why Oral Care is Important
Oral care is preventative care that enables you to stop oral health problems before they start or become severe. Such oral issues as cavities, gum disease, bad breath, dry mouth, and other problems can be discovered and dealt with early on when you are engaged in good oral hygiene.
Oral health is also linked to the health of your whole body. For example, if an infection is present in your mouth, your bloodstream can carry the bacteria to other areas of your body, perhaps leading to other health concerns like heart disease and stroke. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is an important part of long-lasting overall health.
5 Best Practices in Oral Care
If you want healthy teeth and gums and a beautiful smile, follow these five best practices. Though we haven’t added this as a best practice, eating a healthy diet that includes foods that are good for your teeth is another habit you can incorporate to keep your teeth and gums healthy. See the article “Best Summer Foods for Healthy Teeth” for more information.
#1: Brush Your Teeth At Least Twice a Day
Brush your teeth at least two times each day using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. A medium or hard bristle toothbrush can damage your gums and tooth enamel. When you brush, place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward your gums. This angle helps move plaque and bacteria away from the gum line. Be sure to brush all teeth surfaces, including the backs and sides. See the article “Proper Teeth Brushing Techniques” for more information.
#2: Floss At Least Once a Day
Brushing won’t reach the spaces between your teeth. To clean these areas, you need dental floss. Follow these steps to floss correctly:
- Take a piece of floss about 18 inches long and wrap each end around your middle fingers.
- Using your thumbs and forefingers, guide the floss between two teeth.
- Wrap the floss snugly around one tooth in a C shape and clean it using about 10 up and down strokes.
- Next, wrap the floss around the next tooth and repeat.
- Continue this process on all of your teeth.
If you have problems with dexterity, you can use interproximal brushes and dental picks to clean between your teeth. Note that, while water flossers are a great way to remove large pieces of food and debris, they can’t remove the biofilm from your teeth surfaces. So, if you use a water flosser, you will still need to use traditional dental floss as well.
#3: Brush Your Tongue
You may not realize it but your tongue holds bacteria much like a sponge. So, don’t forget to brush your tongue when you brush your teeth. You can use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper in the oral health aisle of your grocery or pharmacy.
#4: Use an Antibacterial Mouthwash Every Day
Antibacterial mouthwash assists in eliminating harmful oral bacteria. In addition to rinsing away food and debris, it also reduces plaque buildup. Be sure to use an alcohol-free formula to prevent dry mouth.
#5: Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Routine dental exams and cleanings are essential for good oral health. Many people do well with bi-annual (every six months) visits. However, if you tend toward cavities or have gum disease or other oral health problems, you may need more frequent appointments.
In Summary
The best oral hygiene routine is one that you can practice consistently. Talk to your dentist about a personalized oral health regimen to meet your needs.
Contact Hamby Family Dental Center to Maintain your Oral Health
At Hamby Family Dental Center, we are primarily concerned with your overall oral health. Guiding you with best practices in your oral care is a main part of our service for our patients. Contact us today to schedule a dental appointment checkup. Call us at 919-552-2431 or complete the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.