Tooth decay is still a major issue in any part of the world, primarily due to a lack of good oral hygiene education. Children are taught early on that they should brush their teeth after every meal to avoid tooth decay. Perhaps more oral hygiene campaigns are necessary to preserve people’s oral health.
Many people are unaware of what is needed to keep their teeth healthy. They forego basic oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing, and especially, going to the dentist. Many are even unaware that there exist different dental specialists in the field of dentistry.
A prominent endodontist in Lone Tree, Colorado shares some insights about dentistry and oral health care.
Different specializations in dentistry
There’s the general dental practitioner, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the orthodontist, the periodontist, the prosthodontist, the pediatric dentist, and the endodontist. Regardless of their chosen specialization, all of these dental professionals would agree on one thing—complete oral hygiene is important to your health and general well-being.
These are the basics of complete oral hygiene. Observe and follow them so you’ll have healthy teeth and gums.
Brushing
Dentists recommend brushing at least three times a day or after every meal. Bits of pieces of food are left in the mouth, and if left to rot, they could cause bacteria buildup. These plaques would then be the cause of tooth decay.
There’s also the proper method of brushing. The average time you should spend brushing is two minutes to allow at least 30 minutes of cleaning in each quadrant of the mouth. When you hit a quadrant, be sure to brush the entire surface of your teeth, front and back.
Flossing
Brushing alone does not clean your teeth completely. Smaller bits of food may still be caught in between your teeth that the bristles of the brush are too big to reach. Flossing will take care of this problem. Dentists recommend flossing at least once a day using 45cm floss.
Use a mouthwash
Mouthwash removes the acid from your mouth and helps give you fresh breath. Sip a small amount but don’t swallow it. Instead, swish the liquid around the mouth for about 30 seconds, gargle, and then spit it out. You’ll immediately feel the result.
Tongue cleaning
Some dentists are okay with using your toothbrush to clean your teeth and some even say your dental floss is okay, too. But there exist in the market a tongue cleaner designed to do exactly that—it’s called a tongue scraper.
Tongue scrapers remove toxins and bacteria left on the surface of the tongue. These contribute to the embarrassing condition called halitosis or more commonly known as bad breath. By cleaning the tongue, the taste buds are enhanced, making you enjoy good food more.
Your dentist is waiting
Some people are filled with anxiety when going to the dentist, but this shouldn’t be the case. Dentists are there to help you—because if you know you can get away with not going to your dentist, you will neglect all of the basic dental hygiene practices. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for a consultation and treatment of potential problems.
Research has shown that poor oral hygiene is linked to serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, and could adversely affect a woman’s ability to conceive, among others, so why take the risk? The steps you need to do in order to have healthy teeth are simple. Start now and your smile will be brighter.
