The purpose of good dental hygiene is not just to keep a person's smile looking bright and beautiful. Taking care of the teeth can prevent serious problems that can affect not only the health of the oral cavity but the health of the body in general. For example, some doctors believe that bacteria allowed to proliferate in the mouth can migrate to the heart and cause heart valve problems. An abscess can be surprisingly dangerous to health, and other diseases of the teeth such as pulpitis can be excruciatingly painful.
Other signs of poor dental health are bad breath and gums that are puffy, red and bleed when the person brushes their teeth. Even without this, poor dental health not only results in teeth that are cracked, chipped, discolored or missing but affects the person’s ability to eat and speak.
Tips to Improve Your Oral Routine
Everyone knows they should brush their teeth after they eat, but some people don’t know that they should wait about a half an hour after they’ve eaten. This time period allows teeth that have been exposed to acids found in food or beverages to remineralize a bit.
Teeth should also be brushed the right way to make sure that they’re free of germs and bacteria. This means brushing the front and the back of the teeth, holding the brush at a 45 degree angle and moving the bristles in tiny circles to cover the entire surface of the tooth.
After this, the mouth needs to be rinsed, and the teeth should be flossed. Flossing can take a bit of a learning curve, especially for children, but it should still be practiced.
Another tip is to never go to bed without brushing the teeth. Germs build up during the day, and if the teeth aren’t brushed at night, they continue to build up while the person sleeps. More tips include:
- Brush the Tongue - Bacteria can build up on the tongue as well, and gently brushing the tongue removes it.
- Use a Fluoridated Toothpaste - Use fluoride toothpaste, which resists germs and helps the teeth remineralize.
- Use Mouthwash - Use mouthwash at least one in a while. Mouthwash not only gets rid of residual germs, but actually cleans hard to reach places in the teeth and gums and, like fluoride toothpaste, helps the teeth to remineralize.
- Drink Lots of Water - Water washes bits of food from the mouth after meals, including food and drink that’s sticky, sugary and acidic.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the few dental procedures that is truly cosmetic. It doesn’t clean the person’s teeth or help their functionality. They just make the teeth whiter. Whitening can be done through gels, strips, bleaches or types of toothpaste that contain whitening ingredients.
Teeth whitening can be done at home or in the dentist’s office. Most dentists recommend that the treatment be done professionally. A layperson who doesn’t follow instructions runs the risk of damaging their teeth and gums or not getting the results they want. A dentist not only knows how to whiten teeth in a safe manner, but the teeth usually come out whiter than they would have if the patient had treated them. Teeth whitening also takes less time when the dentist does it.
Products That Will Help
Besides a good toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and dental floss, there are several products that can help a person practice good oral hygiene. They include:
- Electric Toothbrush - Electric toothbrushes are handy for people who suffer from conditions such as arthritis or other disabilities. They’re also good for the elderly, people who wear braces and people whose teeth are out of alignment.
- Tongue Scraper - If the person doesn’t want to simply brush their teeth, they can use a tongue scraper. This tool is often an elongated U-shaped piece of stainless steel and is more effective at cleaning the tongue than simply brushing.
- Floss Holder - These inexpensive, fork or F-shaped instruments make flossing easy. They’re usually made of plastic and come in different colors, which makes them especially attractive to children.
- Gum Stimulator - These tools resemble toothbrushes but have a rubber tip at one end instead of bristles. They’re used to massage the gums. This both cleans away bacteria and improves circulation to the gums.