How Can You Maintain Good Oral Health At Home?

Having a healthy mouth is important to your overall health. Poor oral health can affect your quality of life. When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you enjoy, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. The effects of poor oral health include bad breath, pain, and difficulty eating or speaking. If left unchecked, these issues can escalate to more serious complications, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Follow good oral health at home with the tips below:

Brushing Your Teeth

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes in the morning and two minutes in the evening. If you wear braces, you will need to spend additional time cleaning your brackets and wires.

Brushing your teeth twice each day helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. It also helps remove plaque from your teeth, reducing the risk of cavities caused by tooth decay.

It is important to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to ensure that you remove plaque from your teeth without damaging your enamel. You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or after your bristles have frayed.

Flossing Your Teeth

The best way to clean your teeth is by flossing. If you haven't flossed your teeth in a while, you may notice that your gums are bleeding. This bleeding is actually your gums' way of reacting to the buildup of bacteria and plaque.

When flossing, make sure to do it gently. Take your time and use a gentle sawing motion to remove the bacteria. If your gums bleed, rinse your mouth with mouthwash or warm water.

Rinsing Your Mouth

While brushing and flossing on a daily basis can keep your mouth clean, there are still particles that can remain on your teeth. Rinsing your mouth after brushing or after eating anything can help remove these particles and leave you with a clean feeling.

Eating a Balanced Diet

When brushing and flossing at home, patients should aim to remove food particles and plaque from the teeth. Nutrition is another important aspect of at-home oral hygiene. Patients should aim to limit their consumption of sugary food and drinks, as these substances can feed the oral bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

Regular Dental Checkups

At home, you should be practicing proper oral hygiene. This should include brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once. Use fluoride toothpaste and, if possible, an electric toothbrush. At your dental checkups, we will also clean your teeth. These cleanings will remove stubborn plaque and tartar buildup so you can avoid getting tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

Please reach out to our dental practice from your nearest location to have a consultation with our dentist. You can call us or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.