Shiny teeth and good oral hygiene are not just crucial for having a heartwarming smile, but they can have far-reaching effects on your overall health as well. Oral hygiene is the practice and measures that you take to prevent tooth decay and other mouth structures from infection. This includes regularly brushing your teeth, flossing, and periodic dental visits.
Health Implications of Poor Oral Hygiene
While most people primarily think about tooth decay and gum diseases as the main adverse effects of poor dental hygiene, it can actually lead to deeper health issues. Research has shown that patients with oral diseases are at a higher risk of heart disease compared to people with good oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene can also lead to the aggravation of conditions such as diabetes, causing difficulties in controlling blood sugar and thus worsening the condition. Additionally, it can increase the risk of diseases such as infective endocarditis, bacterial pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. This is because dental plaque can be a reservoir and host of various respiratory pathogens. As such, it is important to take a proactive approach to your dental health to limit the risk of such ailments.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the importance of oral hygiene, provide measures, and offer oral hygiene tips to limit the risk of any health complications.
Brushing Techniques for Optimal Oral Health
Since most people are already versed in the key measures needed to improve oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing, let’s first discuss how you can do it right. Here are some brushing techniques to always keep in mind.
How to Brush Teeth
While it is not necessarily rocket science, the right brushing technique could be the difference between developing tooth decay or avoiding it. There are several key considerations that you should make to ensure that the technique is just right.
Brushing Angle
Brushing your teeth shouldn’t be approached with a one-size-fits-all mentality; you have to ensure that you hold your brush at the right angle. Brushing is meant to dislodge any food particles and bacteria along the gum lines and between teeth. As such, holding your brush at a 45-degree angle is the best to ensure that bristles reach most of the targeted areas.
Brushing Movement
Here, always remember to apply these two techniques:
The Bass Method: In this technique, the brushing movement is back and forth in short tooth-wide strokes. Be careful not to disengage filament tips from the gum line.
Roll Technique: Here, the brush moves from the gumline towards the biting surface across your teeth. For the inside part of the upper teeth, you have to hold your brush vertically at 90 degrees and make up and down strokes.
Brush Pressure
The common misconception is that more pressure is better, but this is far from the truth. Extreme pressure on your teeth from brush bristles may actually increase the risk of gum diseases or cause receding gums. Dislodging the food particles stuck in your teeth will hardly require as much pressure. Gentle brush movements with medium pressure will suffice. Remember, once plaque hardens into tartar, no amount of brush pressure can remove it. The best way to remove tartar is to visit a dentist’s office for dental cleaning.
Choosing the Right Brush and Toothpaste
As for the right brush to use, soft-bristled toothbrushes are always recommended as firm or medium firm bristles can be too hard and damage your teeth. Sensitive teeth will require even softer bristles. Toothpaste choice is a matter of personal preference but always go for dentist-recommended brands or contact your dentist for specific recommendations.
Flossing Importance
Other than brushing your teeth, flossing is also an important part of oral hygiene. It helps remove food particles between teeth in places where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing is also more effective in clearing bad breath when combined with brushing compared to brushing alone.
Just like brushing, flossing should follow the right flossing techniques. Hold the floss with your thumb and index finger and gently slide it between teeth with up and down movements. Ensure that you curve the floss at the base of each tooth just beneath the gumline. Never force the floss as this could lead to gum damage and increase risks of infections.
Mouthwash Benefits and Best Practices
Even after brushing and flossing, bacteria can still develop in your mouth, which is why it is important to use mouthwash. Rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash can help kill any bacteria that is likely to cause tooth decay and bad breath. Secondly, rinsing with mouthwash after eating foods with a strong smell such as garlic and onion can also help reduce bad breath. Some mouthwash brands also act as tooth whitening agents, helping you have a wholesome smile.
Choosing the best mouthwash depends on your oral needs. If you eat sugary food and drinks, look for cavity-fighting mouthwash. If you are susceptible to bad breath, then go for antiseptic or plaque control mouthwash. For those who often experience dry mouth, then alcohol-free mouthwash may be the solution.
Diet and Oral Health
Diet plays a crucial part in oral hygiene. Some foods may increase the risk of developing dental diseases while other foods can significantly reduce this risk. Generally, highly acidic foods will cause the erosion of the enamel, which can in turn make you more susceptible to diseases. Foods with high acidity levels of below 5.5 such as cola, red wine, and grapefruit can accelerate bacteria growth and cause cavities. This is the same case with sugary foods and drinks.
Even though sugar isn’t necessarily bad, frequently consuming sugary foods increases the risk of dental diseases. Instead of eating many snacks throughout the day, it is recommended to have specific times during the day for meals. Opt for healthy snacks and balance out the acidic foods you take with alkaline ones afterwards such as nuts, cheese, or raw vegetables. Other foods for healthy teeth include milk, fatty fish, celery and carrot. Keeping away from sugary foods is also important to avoiding tooth decay.
Regular Dental Visits: Why They Are Important
Most people tend to think that dental check-ups should only be reserved for when you have a toothache, but for optimal dental health, regular dental visits are necessary. For one, this will help the dentists identify any developing issues early on and deal with them before they become chronic. Secondly, dentists can also help with teeth whitening, especially for stubborn stains and tartar that won’t come out even after you thoroughly clean your teeth. Lastly, dentists can offer advice tailored to your unique needs. Even after consulting on the internet and with friends, seeking professional advice is always recommended to keep on top of your oral health.
Dental Hygiene for Different Stages of Life
While the basic tenets of dental hygiene remain the same, i.e., brush twice a day and do it after eating and drinking, the key difference in dental care for children, teens, and adults is the type of toothpaste and toothbrush used as well as lifestyle.
oral hygiene for children requires special toothpaste that is ideal for milk teeth and toothbrushes with very soft bristles. Teens, on the other hand, can use normal toothpaste, but it is important to consider factors such as braces and discuss lifestyle choices such as smoking, drug use, and alcohol at this point. For adults, the most important thing is to consider habits and health conditions and how they may impact your dental hygiene. Oral hygiene for seniors on the other hand should include using fluoridated water to make teeth stronger.
Oral hygiene during pregnancy is somewhat different from normal dental care routine. It’s advisable to brush your teeth at least one other time during the day and just right before bed. Daily interdental cleaning is also recommended.
Oral Hygiene Mistakes to Avoid
In the course of taking care of your teeth, sometimes you may make a few mistakes, sometimes even unknowingly. Here are common oral hygiene mistakes to avoid:
- Brushing your teeth too hard: Avoid using extra pressure when brushing your teeth as this could lead to enamel abrasion and gum recession. Consequently, this can increase tooth sensitivity and cause permanent damage to the tooth structure.
- Don’t brush more than twice a day: Forgetting to brush your teeth can have adverse consequences, but overdoing it can be just as bad. Frequently brushing your teeth can cause enamel erosion and also lead to a build-up of fluoride, which can stain teeth.
- Using an old toothbrush: Ensure that you change your toothbrush every three to four months as older brushes may have worn-out bristles, which are not as effective.
Understanding Gum Disease
When plaque is not removed from teeth, it can build up and cause the formation of tartar, which can in turn lead to gum disease. Other risk factors include smoking and chronic illnesses such as diabetes and AIDS. Some of the key signs of gum disease include red, swollen, or tender gums, persistent bad breath, and the loss of teeth sensitivity.
Proper oral hygiene is crucial to preventing gum disease. This can be achieved by brushing and flossing regularly to remove plaque between teeth, making routine check-up visits with the dentist. You should also consider a lifestyle change by quitting smoking and eating a balanced diet.
If left untreated, gum diseases can affect other vital organs. Research has shown that gum diseases can increase the risk of heart diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and even diabetes.
Hydration and Oral Health
Water plays a crucial part in our oral health. Since it has a neutral pH, water is one of the most effective natural cleaners for your mouth. Regularly hydrating through the day will help wash away particles stuck between your teeth and minimize plaque buildup and bad breath. Hydration also helps increase your body’s energy levels, which can in turn reduce cravings for sugary foods and drinks that contribute to tooth decay. Proper hydration also helps reduce dry mouth, which can be quite discomforting.
Follow the following tips to ensure that you are hydrated throughout the day:
- Carry a water bottle whenever you are leaving the house.
- Set a hydration target and aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
- You can add some flavor to your water by infusing it with healthy fruits such as strawberries, cucumbers, or lime.
- Reduce your intake of sugary drinks and instead replace them with water.
Oral Hygiene Tools and latest Oral Care Technologies
Oral hygiene has come a long way, and with the advent of technology, there are several innovations that have been created to better this process. Electric toothbrushes now come with smart features that monitor brushing techniques and provide real-time feedback. Smart flossers are also continuously evolving to provide a tech-savvy approach to dental health.
Additionally, the advent of faster networks such as 5G has seen the growth of tele-dentistry, providing patients with instant access to professional help even in remote areas. Significant strides have also been made in the implant sector, with researchers now experimenting with regenerative dentistry that promises to restore damaged teeth and other critical tissues such as nerves.
Conclusion
Oral health is crucial not only for healthy teeth but also for overall wellbeing. It is important that you take the right approach to building an oral hygiene routine, such as brushing twice every day and regularly flossing. You should also ensure that you schedule regular dentist visits so that they can examine and deal with any potential issues before they become more serious. Other than the right dental care, it is also important to do a lifestyle audit and adopt practices that do not put your oral health at risk. Eat a balanced diet, minimize frequent intake of sugary foods, and always ensure that you are staying hydrated for oral health. Using the right techniques when flossing and brushing your teeth will help you avoid injuries and contribute to gum disease prevention. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
