The Three Fundamentals of Good Oral Hygiene

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Good oral hygiene ensures healthy teeth and an appealing smile.

We’re not all born with Hollywood smiles, but we all have a duty to maintain our mouths fresh and our teeth clean.

The health and cleanliness of your teeth are what is truly important.  It really doesn’t matter if you have spaces between your teeth, uneven incisors or canines that are a little off.

Clean, stain-free teeth can turn any smile into a starry smile.

Our focus tends to shift from a person’s eyes to their mouth when we are talking with them up close. Our brains are just wired that way.

This explains why, when someone has something stuck in between their teeth or noticeable plaque build-up, we will notice it right away.

Even worse than plaque, the end result of poor dental hygiene is embarrassing bad breath, which is caused by the bacteria in the mouth that also produce damaging acid.

Just remember, Brushing, Flossing and Gum Care are the three fundamentals to a healthy smile.

You need to take care of your teeth and to do that, you may need to use sophisticated tools such as Philips Sonicare Toothbrush.

Let’s revisit the 3 basics of healthy teeth.

Brushing

When you are getting out of bed and into bed, remember to brush your teeth.

All it takes is 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per brushing routine.  It is crucial not to apply too much pressure on the toothbrush, as aggressive brushing damages the enamel.

Circular motions during brushing are not as good as vertical movements. Brushing in a circular motion will lead to irritation of the gums because the bristles are brushing against the gum line instead of away from it.

For example, the proper way to brush the lower teeth is to start from below the gum line and the brush stroke should go from bottom to top.

And of course, it’s just the opposite for the upper teeth (starting from above the gum line with a downward motion).

And while you’re at it, don’t forget your tongue, the roof of your mouth and your cheeks.  Because they all accumulate plaque that can lead to odor and oral disease.

Flossing

Flossing is an extremely important part of oral hygiene.  Regular flossing protects your mouth against decay and odor-causing bacteria. It is important to floss before bedtime and after meals.  Regular floss can be difficult to guide through very closely-spaced teeth.  Try waxed floss for more painless cleaning.

If you have limited dexterity and can only use one hand for the flossing process, chose floss that comes with a rechargeable holder stick.

Gum Care

Learn how to identify unhealthy gums. Timely action can help you avoid painful gum infections. Often, what starts off as unhealthy gums, develops into gingivitis.

Neglect your gums for too long and you may be inviting larger dental problems like periodontitis.

Fortunately, if you are regularly brushing and flossing properly, there is little chance that you would have problems with your gums.

That’s because both brushing and flossing helps to not only remove plaque and food debris, but also to massage and stimulate your gum tissue.

You should immediately make an appointment with your dentist if your gums are swollen, oozing blood or your teeth appear to be loosened in their sockets.

Of course, instead of having to manage serious dental issues after they occur, it much smarter and easier to simply prevent them to begin with.

Furthermore, you can avoid the (literal) headache of cavities and the related dental bills by maintaining good oral hygiene.

Give your teeth the importance they deserve.  And strive to follow the basic three rules of oral healthcare every day.

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