Oral hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is as important as maintaining one's personal hygiene. It is one of the best hygiene departments around. In addition to it, regular dental check-ups are essential to diagnose any chances of infection or any potential problems. To maintain balanced oral hygiene, at least two professional cleanings by a dentist per year and regular self-cleaning are necessary. They would also help retain whiter teeth. Here are some of the oral hygiene habits that you can follow to keep your dental set-up healthy:

Dentists always advise their patients to brush twice a day. Brushing regularly helps get rid of most of the bacteria and the food particles that are stuck between the teeth. As compared to manual brushing, using electric toothbrushes are found to be more effective as they produce vibratory and rotary motions, which get rid of the plaque and bacteria with ease. However, during manual brushing, more effort is required to obtain similar results. A toothbrush has to be replaced by a new one every three months, as the bristles tend to wear over time and lose their functionality. People with sensitive teeth and gums should choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid damage to the gums.

Dental flossing is the use of thin nylon filaments or polyethylene ribbons to clean in between teeth. It helps remove plaque and food particles that are stuck in between the teeth. They are available in various flavors as well. Care should be taken not to floss too vigorously, otherwise which would cause bleeding of the gums.

Oral rinsing is the use of a mouth rinse to clean the mouth of all the bacteria. A measured amount of oral rinse is taken in the mouth and used to gurgle. Mouth rinses are said to eliminate most of the bacteria in the mouth. However, they have little or no effect against plaque. Cosmetic rinses are available over the counter, which is mild rinses. Therapeutic rinses are the ones which are prescribed by dentists, and are much effective against the bacteria and offer better results.

Oral irrigators are water jets which are used to clean the debris and bacteria from under the gums. Tiny jets continuously spray water into the gum pockets, which remove accumulated food particles and bacteria. They have proven to reduce the risk of attracting a gum disease.

Tongue cleaners are used to remove the bacteria and fungi from the surface of the tongue. The colonization of bacteria and fungi on the tongue causes bad breath and also other health problems. Using a tongue cleaner helps increase the overall oral health and most importantly, reduces bad breath.