Best Oral Hygiene Practices To Maintain A Healthy Smile

Good oral hygiene is the practice of maintaining clean and healthy teeth and gums by brushing, flossing, and rinsing regularly. Good oral hygiene habits include:

Why is Good Oral Hygiene and Oral Health Important?

Oral health means more than just having pearly white teeth. It encompasses the health of your gums, teeth, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. Without good oral hygiene, you can experience tooth loss, receding gums, tooth decay, thrush, bad breath, and a whole host of other dental issues. Here is why good oral hygiene is important:

• Good oral hygiene protects your teeth from cavities, tooth decay, and other dental issues.
• Good oral hygiene prevents tooth loss.
• Good oral hygiene increases your self-confidence.
• Good oral hygiene lowers your risk of other health problems.

Best Oral Hygiene Practices To Maintain A Healthy Smile

• Brushing your teeth daily

Brushing your teeth twice a day is recommended to remove plaque and leftover food particles from the surfaces of your teeth. However, if you wear dentures, you should rinse them after every meal. This will help to remove leftover food particles and bacteria that have built up throughout the day.

• Flossing daily

Flossing daily is important for several reasons. It removes food particles and bacteria from between teeth that a toothbrush can’t always reach. It helps prevent plaque buildup, which can lead to gum disease. And flossing helps remove surface stains on the teeth, which can make your smile look brighter.

If you have braces, floss threaders make it easier to remove debris from between teeth. A water flosser can help remove plaque between teeth, even if you don’t have braces.

• Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash

Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash is one of the best oral hygiene practices to help maintain a healthy smile. In fact, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash is proven to be more effective than flossing alone.

The American Dental Association recommends using an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day, but it is important to rinse for at least 30 seconds in order to ensure all bacteria are killed.

• Regular dental visits

When patients keep up with their oral care, they can keep their smiles healthy. Visiting the dentist for regular visits and checkups is an essential part of that. These visits allow patients to receive professional cleanings, examinations, and imaging. These visits also give patients the chance to speak to their dentist about any questions or concerns they may have about their teeth or the treatments they receive.

• Avoiding tobacco products

Tobacco products can negatively affect oral health, so patients should steer clear of them. Tobacco use can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, oral infections, and even oral cancer. If you find it difficult to quit the habit, seek help from our dentist about tobacco cessation programs. 

• Avoiding sugary drinks and foods

Keeping up with a healthy oral hygiene routine can help reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. However, some foods and drinks can cause more harm than good. For example, excessive sugar in your diet can cause an increase in plaque, which contributes to tooth decay. Plaque is a sticky substance that coats your teeth. This substance contains bacteria, which naturally occur in your mouth. These bacteria feed on sugar and produce acids that can wear away tooth enamel, which protects your teeth, thus leading to tooth decay.

Please reach out to our dental practice in Manteca, CA, to have a consultation with our family dentist. Please call us at (209) 823-9218 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.