Oral Hygiene Tips By Craig Goldin DDS on September 29, 2012

Good oral hygiene is essential to maintaining the health and aesthetics of your smile. While it is easy to neglect one’s oral health, there are consequences for doing so. Gum disease is a common dental issue that often results from the lack of proper oral hygiene habits. Because gum disease can be linked to serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease, it is especially vital to develop good oral hygiene habits. Fortunately, it is easy to develop an oral hygiene regimen that will help ensure the present and future health of your mouth. Below we discuss easy to follow oral hygiene tips.

Oral Hygiene Tips: Brushing Your Teeth

While it may seem obvious, brushing your teeth is one of the easiest and most important steps you can take to maintaining your oral health. Many of our Troy cosmetic dentistry patients admit to not brushing their teeth for a long enough period of time and to occasionally skipping teeth brushing at bedtime. Over time, the lack of proper tooth brushing can have a major impact on the overall health of the mouth. We recommend that you brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice a day. It is important that you use a toothpaste containing fluoride. The type of toothbrush is not important as long as you can reach all of the areas of the mouth, including the back teeth. You may also use a mouthwash containing fluoride to promote good oral hygiene. To remove bacteria from the mouth and to promote fresh breath, you should also brush your tongue.

Oral Hygiene Tips: Flossing

Because a toothbrush cannot remove plaque that has built up under the gum line and between the teeth, we strongly recommend that you floss at least once a day. Plaque that has built up under the gum line can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. These conditions can cause irreversible damage to the gums and teeth, and in some cases lead to the loss of one or more teeth.

Oral Hygiene Tips: A Healthy Diet

Eating a diet that is low in sugar is good for your entire body - including your teeth! There are even foods that can help strengthen the teeth such as certain meats and cheese. To prevent tooth erosion, you should rinse your mouth with clear water after consuming foods and beverages that are high in acidic content and delay brushing your teeth for 20 minutes.

Oral Hygiene Tips: Dental Check-ups

Undergoing routine dental check-ups and professional dental cleanings every six months helps to ensure the health of your mouth. Routine dental check-ups enable us to diagnose and treat dental issues before they turn into gigantic problems. If there are dental issues present, we will find an aesthetically pleasing treatment. For our patients with chipped or cracked teeth, among other dental issues in Troy, porcelain crowns may be used to effectively restore the appearance, function, and strength of the teeth.