How to Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
How to Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
April 14, 2013
Keeping up with dental hygiene is important to maintain a healthy mouth. In order to keep your teeth healthy and clean, you must follow a specific routine at least once a day. Brushing and flossing every day can prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and remove any bacteria left on your teeth after eating. Although it seems like such an easy task, there are many different variables. Proper brushing takes at least two minutes and should be done after every meal. If you only brush your teeth once a day, be sure you do so before going to bed to prevent plaque build-up and growing bacteria overnight. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease and is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day (“Canadian Dental Association”, 2013, para. 2). Although healthy teeth allow you to look and feel good, they also make it possible for you to eat and speak properly.
Flossing your teeth at least once a day is also important when it comes to maintaining oral hygiene. Flossing will decrease the chance of the plaque hardening on your teeth. There is both waxed and unwaxed floss. Waxed floss is recommended especially if you have trouble slipping the floss between your teeth. The first step to flossing is taking a long enough piece that can be wrapped around your middle fingers several times and leaving about 2 inches in between your hands. Next, slide the floss between your teeth so it forms the shape of a “C”. Use your index finger to wipe each side of the tooth up and down 2 to 3 times. Do this from your gums to the baseline of the tooth and pull the floss against your teeth as you are doing so. Be sure to do this for every tooth and use a new section of the floss as it wears down or picks up food particles. Don’t forget to floss your back molars because people usually forget to which adds a higher risk to gum disease and tooth decay. For people finding it difficult to floss with the traditional floss, there
April 14, 2013
Keeping up with dental hygiene is important to maintain a healthy mouth. In order to keep your teeth healthy and clean, you must follow a specific routine at least once a day. Brushing and flossing every day can prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and remove any bacteria left on your teeth after eating. Although it seems like such an easy task, there are many different variables. Proper brushing takes at least two minutes and should be done after every meal. If you only brush your teeth once a day, be sure you do so before going to bed to prevent plaque build-up and growing bacteria overnight. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease and is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day (“Canadian Dental Association”, 2013, para. 2). Although healthy teeth allow you to look and feel good, they also make it possible for you to eat and speak properly.
Flossing your teeth at least once a day is also important when it comes to maintaining oral hygiene. Flossing will decrease the chance of the plaque hardening on your teeth. There is both waxed and unwaxed floss. Waxed floss is recommended especially if you have trouble slipping the floss between your teeth. The first step to flossing is taking a long enough piece that can be wrapped around your middle fingers several times and leaving about 2 inches in between your hands. Next, slide the floss between your teeth so it forms the shape of a “C”. Use your index finger to wipe each side of the tooth up and down 2 to 3 times. Do this from your gums to the baseline of the tooth and pull the floss against your teeth as you are doing so. Be sure to do this for every tooth and use a new section of the floss as it wears down or picks up food particles. Don’t forget to floss your back molars because people usually forget to which adds a higher risk to gum disease and tooth decay. For people finding it difficult to floss with the traditional floss, there
References: Kittredge, C. (2013). Maintaining Good Dental Care Habits. Everyday Health. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/101/taking-care-of-your-teeth-at-home.aspx Your Oral Health. (2013). Canadian Dental Association. Retrieved from http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care/flossing_brushing.asp