Good oral hygiene is the practice of keeping your teeth and gums healthy to prevent dental problems. It includes brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, visiting your dentist regularly, and taking care of your dental equipment.
What Is Good Oral Hygiene?
Good oral hygiene starts with daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth with proper mouthwash. Eating a healthy diet and avoiding sugary drinks and snacks is also important to keep teeth clean and healthy. If you smoke or use tobacco, you should also try to quit as soon as possible for your oral health as well as your overall health. These habits will help you keep plaque from building up on your teeth, which can lead to cavities. In addition to taking care of your teeth and gums at home, you should visit the dentist twice a year for checkups and professional cleanings.
Why Is Good Oral Hygiene Important?
You only get one set of teeth, so taking care of them is crucial for your overall health and appearance. The most common oral health problems include tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, cavities, oral cancer, and bad breath. Many of these issues can be entirely avoided with proper oral care techniques. Here are a few reasons why you should practice proper oral hygiene:
- Prevents oral diseases
- Keeps your breath fresh and your mouth clean
- Helps prevent other health issues like heart disease and diabetes
- Improves your self-esteem and confidence
- Saves you money in the long run by fixing health problems before they get worse and require more expensive treatments
- Better quality of life in general
Good oral hygiene includes daily brushing and flossing, which will keep plaque in check. Plaque can lead to cavities if it isn’t removed every day. But it’s also important to inspect your smile for common oral health issues so you can bring them up with your dentist at your next appointment. Here is what good oral hygiene looks like.
- Daily care
Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is imperative for good oral hygiene. You also need to brush your tongue to help keep it clean and bacteria-free. Some patients even use an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer to ensure they’re brushing for a long enough period of time. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least two minutes each session.
You should also floss your smile once a day to remove food particles that your toothbrush can’t reach. Make sure you clean between all your teeth and gums and check to see if your floss is frayed or coming apart. If so, get a fresh piece and try again, so you don’t miss any spots!
- Dental exams
Attending regular dental examinations and cleanings is also an important part of maintaining healthy teeth. These appointments allow our team to identify potential concerns and work with you to prevent them before they become bigger problems. They also give our team a chance to also check oral cancer screenings during your routine cleanings. Oral cancer has a high mortality rate, and early detection is key when it comes to treatment and recovery.
Scheduling a visit with us every six months is recommended in order to identify and prevent oral health concerns. That way, we can help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for a lifetime to come!
For the best dental care for your specific needs, visit Stefani J Allison DMD at 200 Ave K SE Suite #1, Winter Haven, FL 33880, or call Dentist in Winter Haven, FL at (863) 299-2192.
