Introduction
Oral hygiene practices help to keep the teeth, gums, and tongue clean, which include brushing and flossing. Maintaining oral hygiene is important as it provides a way to overall health. Oral health is the window for overall health, and poor oral health can increase the risk of various diseases like cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, endocarditis, and pregnancy-related complications. So it is important to make extra effort to achieve good oral health.
What Is Oral Hygiene?
Oral hygiene is the cleanliness of the mouth and oral cavity. It can be maintained by regular brushing and flossing. The key components of oral hygiene are described below:
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Brushing teeth twice a day.
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Flossing.
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Mouthwash.
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Tongue cleaning.
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A balanced diet.
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Hydration.
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Chewing gum.
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Avoiding tobacco.
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Use of mouthguards during sports activities.
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Use of night guards to prevent teeth grinding.
How to Keep Teeth Healthy?
Brushing the teeth twice daily helps remove debris and food particles from the teeth and helps maintain optimal oral health. But, oral health is not only about brushing; in addition, there are many other factors associated with it. The following are the crucial factors to be considered for oral health:
Toothbrushing
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Brush the teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night. Make sure to brush the teeth before going to bed; however tired at the end of the day.
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The bacteria and plaque that have accumulated throughout the day can only be removed by brushing at night.
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These harmful bacteria stay in the mouth for an extended period and start releasing acids which can destroy the tooth structure and bring about dental caries.
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In caries-prone people, use fluoride toothpaste to brush their teeth. Do consult a dentist before start using fluoride toothpaste. Change the toothbrush every three months or when the bristles are frayed, whichever is earlier.
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Despite the number of times brushed, the technique used to brush the teeth also plays a vital role in removing plaque and food debris from the teeth and making them free from harmful bacteria.
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Brush the teeth with gentle circular motions. Make sure to clean every surface of the tooth because ineffective plaque removal can cause calculus formation.
Flossing
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Clean the space between the teeth daily with floss or an interdentally cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still can stay longer on tooth surfaces where toothbrush bristles cannot reach.
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In such cases, flossing or using interdental brushing aids help clean the area in between the teeth, and the area between teeth and the gums. This removes the food particles and debris entrapped between the tooth and gums.
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Flossing helps in the stimulation of the gums and reduces inflammation of the gums. Practicing flossing might be a little difficult in the beginning, but can it smoothly if doing it daily. Encourage the children to do flossing from an early age.
What Are The Lifestyle Changes To Improve Oral Health?
Diet
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Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks in between.
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Reduce the intake of sugar. Bacteria in the mouth metabolize the sugar and produce acids that can demineralize the tooth structure.
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Sticky foods adhere to the tooth surface and act as a source for the bacteria to feed and can produce acids that destroy the tooth structure. So it is important to wash the mouth or brush after consuming sticky foods.
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Limit the intake of sugary drinks; instead, prefer taking normal drinking water. The sugar and acids present in the drinks can weaken the enamel of the teeth. Enamel can be eroded by increased consumption of acidic foods or beverages like tea, coffee, and soda.
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Eat a good amount of crunchy vegetables and fruits that can keep the jaws working. In addition, these do not contain much sugar and reduce the risk of dental caries.
Drink Water
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Drink plenty of water.
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Water helps in flushing out the sticky foods and acidic foods that have been deposited on the teeth before brushing the teeth.
Mouth Washes
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Antimicrobial mouth rinses reduce the bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity, which can lead to dental caries and gum diseases.
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Fluoride mouth rinses help reduce and prevent tooth decay.
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The use of fluoride mouth rinse and fluoride toothpaste can protect against tooth decay over that provided by fluoride toothpaste alone.
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Fluoride mouth rinse is not recommended for children under the age of six.
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People should always check the manufacturer's label for precautions and talk with their dentist about the use of fluoride mouth rinse.
Tongue Cleaning
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Keeping the tongue clean is also an essential part of maintaining oral health.
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Food debris can accumulate on the surface of the tongue, which can produce bad breath in the long run.
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It is due to the bacteria that accumulate on it. Therefore, cleaning the tongue regularly with a tongue scraper or with a brush is important to keep the tongue free of debris.
Dental Visit
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Do a regular dental visit for professional cleaning and oral checkups. Talk to the dentist about what types of oral care products will be most effective, as the preferences changes for individuals.
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Make it a habit to reach out to the dentist at least twice a year to avoid dental problems or to treat these problems at the earliest.
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Do not postpone the dental visits because dental issues, when treated early, can reduce both the suffering and the treatment cost. Dental procedures are not costly in reality, but what costs is the negligence of the patient to attend to the problem at an early stage.
Avoid Smoking
- Smoking also harms oral health. It causes stains on teeth which affects the aesthetics.
- In addition to the aesthetic aspect, smoking also poses a risk of gum problems. It aggravates the existing gum conditions and might lead to the loss of teeth. It also increases the risk of developing oral cancers.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy teeth and esthetic smile depends on the individual in most aspects. When adequately followed, these can bring about fruitful results in the patient's dental health. Routine oral care can be maintained by regular brushing, tongue cleaning, flossing, mouthwash, and regular dental visits. When in doubt, do contact the dental health provider to help with the needed treatment. Only a dentist can give the best possible solution for the dental concern.