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Regular Professional Cleanings & Check-ups
Visiting the dentist every six months or so for a checkup and cleaning is an essential part of an effective oral hygiene routine.
While regular at-home brushing and flossing are a necessary daily maintenance routine for your teeth, plaque will still build up and harden over time. This is true no matter how careful and thorough you are when brushing and flossing!
What's great is that your dentist has the tools necessary to clean away that plaque and tartar buildup safely, without damaging your enamel.
Additionally, before they worsen, your dentist can spot and address developing oral health issues in their early stages. It's crucial to have regular professional examinations because abnormalities like cysts and tumours as well as diseases like gum disease and cavities are frequently not visible to the untrained eye.
With early identification and treatment of oral health problems, you’ll minimize your need for more invasive dental treatments, and keep your mouth healthier, in the long run.
Brushing
Brushing is probably the most important part of your routine. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at night, for two full minutes at a time. If you can manage it, an extra session after lunch is beneficial.
Divide your mouth into four sections, upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right, and spend 30 seconds on each to ensure that each tooth receives the attention it requires. Make sure to brush each tooth's chewing, biting, and chewing surfaces.
Flossing
You should floss your teeth at least once a day, ideally right before you go to bed. Flossing removes food debris that can get caught between your teeth in spots that your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing is essential for preventing tooth decay and gum disease, and will also help keep your breath fresh.
It's crucial to take your time when flossing if you want to do a good job. Between two of your teeth, insert the floss, and carefully move it up and down the sides of each tooth, pulling it into a "C" shape in each direction. Once you have flossed in between every tooth, move methodically along your top jaw, followed by your bottom jaw.
Diet
Eating a healthy diet that’s rich in calcium is also an important part of your oral hygiene routine, as it will help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy from the inside out.
Eat starches and sugars in moderation, and make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Hydration
Getting enough water will help you keep a healthy flow of saliva. This is crucial because saliva removes food particles and other debris that would otherwise build up on your teeth and encourage the growth of bacteria. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can aid in preventing gum disease and cavities.
Supplementary Hygiene
If you are already brushing and flossing regularly, but want to give your routine a boost, you can try adding some supplementary hygiene aids.
Hygiene aids include things like mouthwash, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators, and tongue cleaners, to name a few.
While these tools cannot replace a thorough brushing and flossing routine, they do make a good addition to it, to help keep your breath fresh and minimize plaque buildup.