A lot of our patients think that the hard part is visiting the dentist but really, the toughest part of oral hygiene routine is what you do at home to look after your teeth in between dental visits.
In this Oral Hygiene tips blog, we’re going to go through some dental commandments that we live by if you want to have a happy and healthy mouth! Remember, your teeth are important but don’t forget your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth are just as important.
Read about Oral Hygiene routine for children here.
You probably didn’t know this, but there is technique involved when brushing your teeth correctly. You need to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums which means the bristles are on both gum and teeth. Brush your teeth back and forth, up and down in short strokes. Lots of people forget to brush on the inner surfaces of their teeth so repeat this process for outer and inner! Next step, brush that tongue and the roof of your mouth!
We always get lots of complaints about bad breath and can’t recommend enough how important it is to get rid of the bacteria on your tongue which leads to bad breath. They even have super cool toothbrushes out there that have a tongue scraper on the reverse side of the bristles. Be gentle when brushing and brush once in the morning and once in the evening for a minimum of two minutes each time.
We admit it too, sometimes we’re just too tired to add this to our daily routine after brushing but once you realise just how much germs are still in between your teeth after brushing, it’ll freak you out. Do you really want food particles from last week still stuck in your mouth? This is a contributing factor to bad breath too.
Enough said, we’ve converted and vow to floss even on our death bed when we have one tooth left. How to floss? Now when using floss, we suggest using a fresh piece of floss every two to three teeth so that you're not using one that has bacteria and spreading it from tooth to tooth. Floss in a back and forth motion and flossing once a day at night is ideal. Don’t forget flossing regularly decreases tartar build up and gum disease.
Adding this to your oral health routine will reap in benefits. Mouthwash goes where no toothbrush or floss dare goes. It gets rid of bacteria on the gum line that’s causes gingivitis. It also keeps your teeth safe from plaque and cavities! We’re in!
We hate to mention the ‘D’ word, but we have to go there. What you put into your body really does affect your teeth. Limit sugary foods and soft drinks because this turns into acid inside your mouth and attacks tooth enamel which eventually turns into cavities! Acidic foods also attack the teeth and cause tooth discolouration, sensitivity and cracks.
So you're probably asking yourself exactly which foods and drinks are the ones to blame? Things to avoid are tobacco, coffee, soft drinks, cordial, wine, sport drinks and fruit juices to name a few. We know it’s boring but drinking water hydrates the body and helps build tooth enamel.
Last but not least, visit Dentist in Melbourne at Gorgeous Smiles every six months for your check up and clean. This will just increase your oral health and prevent any further problems. Prevention is the key to a happy healthy mouth. Your dentist can fix the problem, but it really comes down to you doing the hard work in between visits which will help over the long run.
If you are looking forward to have healthy teeth you should brush and floss them at least twice a day and planning a regular dental appointments every six month.
Today we have some good advice for you here and they are listed as below:
One of the easiest and also smartest ways to keep your teeth healthy is to change your toothbrush more often.
There is another reason beyond the bristles fraying and that is a lot of bacteria will trap on the bristles of our toothbrush after brushing.
Make sure to store the toothbrush upright to letting it dry otherwise it gets smelly soon.
You should still remember to replace your bristles 2-3 times a year.
Tongue has one of the most important rolls in oral freshness
Same bacteria on your tooth can stay on your tongue too.
So it's the best way to use a tongue scraper, or even use your regular toothbrush to clean your tongue. and then you can feel your mouth feels more fresh.
You Don't need to brush too hard to get rid of those food particles and plaques on your teeth, because there is a big risk that you are moving tooth enamel and this part is the first layer of the tooth which defends against decay.
You can use soft bristles to prevent your enamel from scraping and your gum from receding.
Some foods are the enemy of the teeth like sugar ,carbs and also acidic and fizzy drinks which makes tooth erosion.
Instead you can have some foods that actually help your teeth
You can add cheese yogurt vegetables like carrots celery and some nuts like almond to your diet .
By scrubbing vegetables like carrot you will be preventing gum disease remineralising your tooth enamel and also balancing your mouth PH.
Book an appointment with our Dentists in Melbourne at Gorgeous Smiles to treat all your Oral health problems.
Most people are aware that brushing and flossing are important to maintaining healthy gums and teeth. However, some people do not realise that they need to brush and floss their teeth after they have had a meal. Especially if they have not eaten any food for a long period.
Oral Hygiene tips for those of us that want to maintain a healthy smile, regular visits to the dentist are important. With many people brushing their teeth incorrectly or not at all, gum disease is becoming a bigger problem.
What is the best toothbrush for your oral hygiene?The toothbrush is one of the most important tools in your arsenal to fight plaque and get your teeth healthy. The best toothbrush for your oral hygiene depends on your oral health needs.
1. Brush with a soft bristle toothbrush. Using medium or hard bristle toothbrushes does not make the plaque removing process any more successful. It just hurts your gum. Main reason for gum recession early in life is brushing too hard. You are not in control of your brushing and the energy you put in on it. So we recommend using a soft toothbrush to never hurt your gum.
2. First have your breakfast and then brush your teeth, we always come across the question of "do I brush before breakfast or after?" Our answer is after to remove any food particle there is no point in brushing and eating right away.
You who might ask but how about all the bacteria build up during night, wouldn't I be taking it all in? Simple rinse will get rid of anything extra and your own body's bacteria is not harmful for you.
3. Change your toothbrush regularly. Toothbrushes can contain a lot of bacteria after a while. And their work can be compromise if the bristles are deformed. We recommend changing your toothbrush on average every 3 months.
4. You need to brush for at least two minutes right before bed. The amount of saliva production is much less at night. And as saliva is protecting your teeth at all times against bacteria. Your teeth are in much greater risk at night so even if you brush once a day do it before bed.
5. Brush light, we already talked about brushing with a soft toothbrush. Too much pressure can cause your gum to recede.
The most common advice is to use dental floss, but is it enough? Unfortunately, not all dental floss is created equal, so what is the best kind to use?
You know what’s great about flossing? There’s not a lot you have to do to it, and when you do, it’s really simple. Flossing helps to remove plaque from your teeth, which can lead to gum disease. And, it will keep your teeth looking great for a long time.
6. Floss first and then brush not reverse. Usually everyone flosses last. But by flossing first you will get rid of all the food particles in between teeth.
7. Floss at least once a day, NO, flossing 3 times per week or every couple of days is not enough. Flossing is like going to the gym regularly. Once you get used to the amazing feeling comes after it, you cannot stop doing it.
8. Any kind of floss is better than not flossing at all.. Pick the one you are comfortable with. No matter what type of floss you use, it does not make much of a difference. Use it every night.
9. Massage your gum. Use your finger to massage. It makes your gum stronger.
10. Brush your tongue too!!! You know how much food particles will be left in between tongue's papillae? There is food and eventually bacteria that can harm your teeth at night just by being left on the tongue. Brush your tongue gently, no toothpaste needed.
