Oral hygiene is a part of everyone’s daily routine and it’s an important one. We all aim to have that perfect smile but sadly a quick once over with the toothbrush morning and night won’t get you there. We’re here to guide you through some important oral hygiene steps that can help you create a smile that feels as good as it looks!
Maintaining good oral hygiene is vital to keeping a healthy smile and helps to prevent dental problems such as cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.
Unfortunately most people unknowingly believe that simply brushing and occasionally flossing is more then enough to keep their mouth in top shape. However, there are some other important oral hygiene habits that can be applied as part of your daily routine to keep your smile looking better then ever!
1. Brush, Floss & Mouthwash
When maintaining good oral hygiene it’s important that your bathroom is stocked with these essentials:
– Soft toothbrush/Electric toothbrush
– Toothpaste with fluoride
– Floss
– Mouthwash
Brushing: When it comes to brushing your teeth we recommend brushing thoroughly twice a day. It should take between 2-3 minutes to brush our teeth properly. Make sure you reach all surfaces of the teeth, front, back and biting surfaces. We also recommend using fluoridated toothpaste. This helps to keep the enamel strong and helps to prevent dental decay. After brushing spit out the excess toothpaste, do not rinse with water.
Flossing: Flossing is a great way to clean in between the tight spaces of your teeth. Toothbrushes can’t reach the areas where teeth are touching and this means your mouth isn’t as clean as you think. We recommend flossing daily, pinch the floss between your index finger and thumb with both hands and use the floss to scrape the edge of each tooth. Floss before you brush so that the plaque you dislodge then gets cleaned when you brush.
Mouthwash: While it isn’t necessary for everyday use, mouthwash has a special place in your oral hygiene routine. Mouthwashes are great for killing any bacteria that may be in your mouth, as well as helping to maintain good breath and strong teeth. At a separate time to brushing and flossing the use of mouthwash can help maintain the fresh breath feeling.
2. Healthy Diet
Having a healthy diet plays a key part in your overall health, but also with your oral health. We recommend avoiding drinks with high acidity such as soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices and to avoid foods that contain an excessive amount of sugar. The bacteria in the mouth break down any sugars we eat and they create acid, which, if left on your teeth can lead to tooth decay.
Being human, it takes a lot of discipline to avoid these treat items, and we all have a sweet tooth from time to time. Dental health is also dependent on the frequency of consuming these sweet treats (or any food containing fermentable carbohydrates). Make sure you avoid grazing all day and save the sweet treats for special occasions. After consuming these types of foods it’s best to rinse your mouth with water. Water helps to wash away some of the food as well as neutralise the acids, its also great for your overall health.
3. Avoid Smoking
Smoking is another habit that impacts on your overall health and oral health. Smoking will leave you with bad breath and also can discolour your teeth leaving them looking dull or grey – but that’s nothing compared to the major problems it can cause to your oral health. Smoking significantly increases your chances of periodontal disease (gum disease) and worse, oral cancers.
While it’s hard, we recommend considering quitting this habit and definitely encourage your family, friends and kids to not start.
4. Protect your Teeth
Our teeth play a huge part in our lives. We all smile and would hate to have anything happen to our pearly whites. When it comes to contact sports our teeth are left in a vulnerable position and are open to being knocked or bumped. We recommend a custom mouthguard be worn when playing contact sports (football, taekwondo etc.). Also remember some recreational activities such as bike riding and skateboarding can also lead to knocks and falls. A custom mouthguard made at your dentist will provide better protection.
We also recommend avoiding using your teeth for anything other then chewing. Opening bottles or cracking nuts with your teeth can lead to unwanted cracks and breaks.
5. Regular Visits to the Dentist
Having a regular dental check-up is a great way to make sure your oral health is in great shape. At these appointments your dentist will carry out a routine exam, clean off any plaque build up that you can’t brush off yourself, as well as check for any problems such as tooth decay. We recommend seeing your dentist every 6 months.
It’s important to keep on top of your oral health, having a healthy mouth leads to having a healthy smile.
To book an appointment please phone 3203 0162 to speak to our friendly reception team or appointments can be booked online here.