What is Dental Hygiene?

Dental hygiene means practicing the proper techniques for brushing and flossing, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping regular visits to the dentist. These form the pillars of dental health and should be part of your healthier lifestyle behaviors

How to Brush Your Teeth

The foundation of good dental hygiene is brushing your teeth correctly. Using fluoride toothpaste to protect the enamel on your teeth and a soft bristle brush to keep your gums healthy is recommended. Brushing in a gentle, circular motion covers all the surface areas of your teeth. Brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth is also essential for oral hygiene and makes your breath smell even better! It would help to brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice daily.

While brushing your teeth in and of itself is important, the quality and duration of the brushing matters as much. Poor brushing habits lead to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease.

Flossing

Flossing is many people's least favorite part of their dental hygiene routine. However, neglecting it can also lead to severe consequences. Dental floss reaches the areas between your teeth and along the gumline where your toothbrush can't access. To floss correctly, you must take a long strand of dental floss wrapped around your fingers. Gently slide a few inches of the floss between your teeth in a C-shaped around the tooth. Move it up and down to remove trapped food particles and plaque, using a clean section of floss for each tooth.

Like brushing your teeth, flossing helps prevent cavities and gum disease. However, the bacteria in plaque can also inflame your gums, causing gingivitis or more severe periodontal diseases. It is important to be gentle with your gums, not tearing at them with floss or damaging them with toothpicks.

Diet

While not always top of mind, diet plays a significant role in dental health. Sugar, especially, is a major player. Foods high in sugar, and when frequently consumed, can cause tooth decay. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar, which produces an acid that erodes tooth enamel. Acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits and sodas can also damage teeth.

A balanced diet, rich in calcium, vitamins, and minerals, helps strengthen your teeth and gums. Dairy products, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are beneficial. Drinking water, especially tap water with fluoride, can also help prevent cavities.

Visiting the Dentist

Besides these accessible at-home practices, regular dental checkups are vital to maintaining your dental hygiene. Dentists have special tools and expertise to identify issues early and apply preventative measures, such as cleanings and fluoride treatments. They can also find and address concerns before they reach a critical and often expensive point. It's recommended to see a dentist every six months, and finding the practitioner best for you can be found through evaluating your health insurance plan.

Some tools for dentists include X-rays to identify hidden problems, such as impactions and infections. They can also offer aesthetic treatments and referrals, such as Orthodontics or teeth whitening.

Dental Anxiety

Many people harbor a deep-seated fear of visiting the dentist, a condition known as dental anxiety. The fear often stems from past negative experiences, concerns about pain, or simply the unfamiliarity of the dental chair. Dentists know this and can alleviate patients' fear by offering clear communication, listening to your concerns, and providing relaxation techniques, like soothing music. Creating a comfortable atmosphere can significantly improve the dental experience for those with anxiety and ensure you can still get the care you need.

Go Forth and Smile

Maintaining proper dental hygiene and regular dentist visits is not a luxury but a necessary part of your overall wellness responsibilities. Neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to severe concerns like cavities, gum, disease, and bad breath. Poor dental hygiene can also have systemic effects on the body, potentially contributing to conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Maintaining excellent dental hygiene requires consistently brushing and flossing correctly, paying attention to your diet, and reducing your consumption of harmful foods. Regular dental checkups are also essential to keep an eye on what may not be able to be seen or addressed at home.