Jul 15, 20234 min read

Tips to Maintain Good Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene and Oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. A good dental hygiene routine is a must, to not only have a healthy smile, but also an overall healthy body.

There are many different ways to care for your oral health and dental hygiene apart from brushing your teeth. Here is a list of all the tips to maintain good dental hygiene.

1. Practice good oral hygiene & dental hygiene

Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day for 2 minutes. Use of a soft brush with a small or medium sized head is preferred. Use proper brushing technique. Also, it is recommended that you change your toothbrush every quarter as it becomes less effective when bristles start to lose their shape.

2. Choose a good toothpaste

Ensure that your toothpaste is safe and effective. To know about the right toothpaste for your teeth, talk to your dentist as it can vary from individual to individual.

3. Floss daily

Quite frequently, we dentists come across cavities occurring in between teeth. Such areas can be hard to be reached by a toothbrush, resulting in tooth decay. Thus, flossing in between is one of the best ways to maintain your inter-dental hygiene.

4. Don’t neglect your tongue

Often we only clean our teeth and gums while brushing and ignore our tongue. Plaque can build up on your tongue which can lead to foul odor and other health problems. So, while brushing, don't forget to clean your tongue. You can either use a tongue scraper or gently brush your tongue to rinse away the bacteria and freshen up your breath.

5. Keep your Oral equipment clean

What’s going inside your mouth should also be cleaned. Your oral equipment should be cleaned after and before they are used as this may lead to bacteria build up. Keep your toothbrush clean by simply rinsing it off with water and letting it dry. Do not cover or share your toothbrush, tongue cleaners and other oral equipment with others.

6. Visit your dentist

at least once a year, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.

I have encountered patients who have not had a single dentist visit in 30 - 40 years of their life and by the time they report to the dentist for the first time, it is too late to save the tooth. So, it is recommended to have dentist visits starting from 6 months of age with regular dental checkup, at least once a year.

7. Be mindful of what you eat

Your mouth is just like a window for your body. Anything you consume first enters through your mouth. Eat healthy and avoid sugary and acidic foods. Sugar converts to acid in your mouth which can then erode enamel and lead to cavities. You don’t need to completely avoid these food items but consume in moderation and rinse your mouth.

Smoking and consumption of tobacco affects your health in many ways and can lead to staining of teeth, foul smell, cavities and can cause oral cancer. Avoid them at all costs.

8. If you have diabetes,

The chances of developing oral infections and abscesses are higher. Also, the healing rate is slower. Thus, when you visit your dentist, discuss your general health including diabetes. This will help in taking appropriate precautions and care before as well as throughout your dental treatment.

Try working to maintain control of the disease. Get your blood sugar levels tested regularly. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease.

9. If your medication causes dry mouth,

This would mean that the amount of saliva produced in your mouth is less.

Saliva moistens the mouth for comfort, lubricates as you chew and swallow, and neutralizes harmful acids. It also kills germs and prevents bad breath, defends against tooth decay and gum disease, protects enamel, and speeds up wound healing. Thus, an adequate amount of saliva production is required to maintain good dental hygiene.

If you are facing dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, use prescription salivary substitutes and avoid tobacco products and alcohol

10. When acting as a caregiver,

help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.

11. Consider using a mouthwash

Mouthwash can help freshen your breath, soothe dry mouth and reduce plaque.

It is also useful in post oral cancer recovery patients who are unable to open their mouth or who are finding it difficult to maintain oral hygiene.

There are many types of mouthwashes available in the market containing fluorides, soothing agents, anti-bacterial, etc. Ask your dentist for an appropriate mouthwash.

12. Drink more water

Water helps in maintaining a healthy oral hygiene. Hence, it is recommended to consume an adequate amount of water daily.

13. Tooth scaling: Myths and facts

I have come across some patients who had thick tartar on their teeth and they weren’t even aware of it. As a result of this, their teeth became loose and were also accompanied with bad breath and many other problems. One of the popular myth about tooth scaling is:

Myth: Scaling weakens teeth.

Fact: Scaling eliminates tartar and plaque to keep teeth and gums healthy and free of bacteria. It also prevents bad breath and bleeding gums.

14. Address your dental anxiety

One of the many reasons why many people do not visit the dentist, stems from dental anxiety. This could be due to a past traumatic experience or a hearsay. Anxiety can even make it hard to keep up with regular appointments and thus compromises oral hygiene!

Here are some tips on coping with dental anxiety:

Talk to your dentist about your fears. Dentists know how to work with people experiencing dental anxiety. They can ensure that your appointments are as comfortable as possible. This can include taking breaks in between the procedure and being extra gentle.
Schedule your appointments on low-stress days.
Schedule appointments earlier in the day.
Have a support person with you to drive and wait for you during the treatment.

Check out our previous blog post on 'How Medi-facials are different than facials at parlor' to learn more about your skin requirements along with your oral hygiene.

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