The practice of maintaining one’s mouth clean and free from diseases and other problems by proper brushing of teeth on a regular basis is known as Oral hygiene. It is necessary that oral hygiene should be followed routinely to allow the prevention of bad breath and dental problems. The most common forms of dental disease are tooth decomposition (cavities, tooth caries) and gum diseases like periodontitis and gingivitis.
Generally, it is recommended that you should brush your teeth twice every day, after getting up in the morning and before going to bed. However, the mouth should be cleaned after each meal. Cleaning between the teeth is known as interdental cleaning and it is of equal importance as tooth brushing. Since a toothbrush cannot stretch out between the teeth and therefore discards only 50% of plaque from within. Floss and interdental brushes are the most commonly used tools to clean between the teeth.
Oral Hygiene Day
The oral hygiene day was launched to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. G B Shankwalkar, Head of Indian Periodontics and founder of the Indian Society of Periodontology (ISP), who was born on August 1. Each year, the Indian Society of Periodontology, together with its members, dental associations including Indian Dental Association (IDA) and its local branches, dental colleges, and several private organizations across the country celebrate the oral hygiene day on August 1.
The main objective of celebrating oral hygiene day is to highlight the importance of oral health and to eliminate the trend of negligence that is one of the important causes of dental problems.
Oral Hygiene Tips
Good oral hygiene routine and regular visits to the dentist will help you to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Here are a few tips to help you care for your teeth.
- Brush you’re twice every day
Brush your teeth in the morning and then again at night to help remove plaque formation and bacteria that result in tooth decay and periodontal disease. But remember not to brush vigorously because it can do damage to your teeth and gums.
- Floss daily
The process of brushing is completed with flossing. Floss can stretch out the crevices that are otherwise not reachable by your brush bristles, so it is an important step for a clean mouth.
- Oral Irrigators
These are the latest cleaning tools that pump water in a stable or fluctuating manner and flushing out food residues and bacterial byproducts.
- Limit intake of sugar products
Sugary and starchy food products cause action in your mouth that results in tooth decay. Sugar combines with the bacteria in your saliva to make an acid that wears away your tooth enamel, the external protective coating of your teeth.
- Consider mouthwash
For an improvement in your oral hygiene routine, Rinse your mouth with an anti-bacterial mouthwash that is recommended by your dentist. A mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, but it can be the perfect companion for these practices.
- Use fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride helps to make your tooth enamel stronger to fight tooth decay.
- Brush your tongue
Your tongue entertains bacteria too, so either uses your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clean your tongue.