How to Maintain Good Dental Health?

Part of our overall well being is good oral health. To achieve this it is important that we maintain good oral hygiene. Brushing our teeth twice a day is not enough to say that we have good dental health. In this article, let us explore things that we can do to maintain good oral health.

The simplest thing is to brush our teeth properly and regularly. Brushing is very important as it cleans our teeth and helps remove plaque. If the plaque is not removed it will accumulate around our teeth and cause problems later. Most dentists recommend that adults use a medium sized toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent enamel erosion. It is also recommended to use a fluoride based toothpaste as it strengthens the teeth and protects them from plaque build up.

You only need a pea sized amount of toothpaste on the brush and the toothbrush should be changed once every two or three months. Even better use an electric tooth brush because it will clean your teeth more thoroughly and prevent over brushing which can cause receding gums. This can happen when you brush too hard from side to side with a normal toothbrush.

The best way to brush your teeth is as follows:

1. Place the head of your toothbrush against the teeth and tilt the bristles at a 45 degree angle against the gum line. Move the brush in small circular movements, several times on all the surfaces of every tooth.

2. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower, keeping the bristles angled against the gum line.

3. Use the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth.

4. Brush the biting surfaces of the teeth

5. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes with the front part of the brush.

6. Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath and will clean your mouth by removing bacteria.

Flossing also plays an integral part in our dental health care. Ideally we should floss our teeth after every meal but at least once a day. Flossing removes food particles and plaque between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. To floss properly use about 12 to 18 inches of the dental floss and wind it up on the fore finger. As we start to floss, it should be held tight between the forefinger and thumb. Floss gently to avoid cutting the gums. Start from the top, then work your way from left to right and continue to the bottom.

Then follow this pattern between all your teeth. Sometimes looking in the mirror can help you see that you are doing it properly. Finally using a fluoride mouthwash helps kill bacteria in your mouth and can help prevent tooth decay. As well as leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean, a good mouth wash protects against bad breath which can be a symptom of bad teeth or poor oral health. But remember using a mouthwash is no substitute for cleaning your teeth properly.

Regular visits to the dentist or dental hygienist is the best way to prevent oral health problems. Maintaining good dental health is not that difficult to do. We just have to invest a little time and self discipline to keep our teeth healthy and remember that prevention is better than cure.