Brushing and flossing are important parts of your oral hygiene routine, but there are a few other things to remember. Follow the steps outlined below by our Warman dentists to maintain your oral health and keep your teeth and gums clean.
Brushing
Brushing your teeth is probably the most important thing you can do every day to maintain your oral health. Brush your teeth two or three times a day, for two minutes at a time.
Brush your teeth for 30 seconds in each "quadrant" (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) for best results. Brush all of your teeth's exposed surfaces, including the fronts, backs, and biting surfaces, with a soft toothbrush.
Tip: Try an Electric Toothbrush
Cleaning your teeth with an electric toothbrush is much easier. Because they perform the correct brushing movement for you, they require less effort than manual brushes. Choose an electric toothbrush with a rotating, round head for the best circular brushing motion.
In addition, because the head is quite small, it’s easier to clean those awkward, hard-to-reach spots, like your back molars, and the backs of your front teeth.
Flossing
You should floss at least once a day, preferably at night before bed. Flossing dislodges food debris and build-up from between your teeth, in the places your toothbrush can’t reach.
Place the floss between two teeth and run it up and down the sides of both, forming a "c" shape in both directions. Continue slowly and thoroughly, flossing between every two teeth.
Professional Dental Cleanings & Check-ups
Visiting the dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and check-up is essential to maintaining oral health.
Your dentist has the expertise and tools required to remove plaque and tartar build-up that you can't remove yourself with brushing and flossing.
If your dentist sees you frequently enough, he or she will be able to detect dental problems early on and treat them before they worsen. Cavities, gum disease, and even tumours, cysts, and other abnormalities in the mouth are often undetectable to the untrained eye in their early stages, so it's critical to have your mouth examined by a dental professional regularly.
Diet
Eating a healthy diet that’s rich in calcium helps keep your teeth healthy from the inside out. Restrict consumption of sugars and starches, because oral bacteria thrive on these.
Hydration
Keeping yourself hydrated can help you avoid cavities! Drinking plenty of water will help you maintain a healthy saliva flow, which washes away the food particles that accumulate on your teeth and allow bacteria to grow.
Supplementary Hygiene Aids
Oral hygiene aids are tools that you can use in addition to brushing and flossing. Tongue cleaners, mouthwash, interdental cleaners, and oral irrigators are all good examples of supplementary hygiene aids.
Between brushing and flossing sessions, these aids can help keep your breath fresh and prevent plaque buildup. While they aren't a perfect substitute for a thorough brushing and flossing routine, they can certainly help.