4 Tips For Better Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good dental hygiene is quick and easy, but many people fail to do this on a daily basis. Following these 4 basic tips will help you to improve your oral hygiene by reducing the risk of plaque and gum disease, whilst helping to freshen your breath and whiten your smile.
1. Use The Seal of Approval
The Australian Dental Association's Seal of Approval can be found on all dental products that have been tested by a team of experts, to ensure that the product is safe and effective for maintaining oral hygiene. When picking dental products for your family such as toothpaste and mouthwash, make sure you read the label and establish whether it has been given the seal of approval. It will help you to purchase products that have passed rigorous tests and are effective to use.
2. Brush All Over
Failing to brush both in front of the teeth, behind them, the tongue and the gum line is a major reason bacteria and plaque buildup over time; causing gum disease and bad breath. When brushing, use various motions to dislodge food debris and clean the teeth from multiple angles. When brushing the tongue, try to use the bristles to scrape of the bacteria, rinsing the brush head in water after each stroke. This will stop you transferring the bacteria to other parts of the mouth and help to freshen your breath, as bacteria can create unpleasant malodour and also contribute to teeth discolouration.
3. Rinse and Spit
For many people, a refreshing glass of orange juice followed by a nice cup of coffee is the perfect start to the day. Unfortunately, dark-coloured liquids such as coffee can contribute to teeth discolouration, whilst acidic fruits and foods can eat away at the enamel on the teeth. Brushing straight away can actually remove the weakened enamel; however, rinsing the mouth with water is a good way to remove excess acid. Alternatively, try drinking any sugary or acidic drinks through a straw to minimise contact with the teeth. However, when brushing with toothpaste try not to rinse your mouth with water, as the fluoride in the toothpaste will continue to work long after the brushing has finished.
4. Wash and Floss
Whilst using mouthwash and dental floss isn't essential if you follow the tips mentioned, they are an effective supplement to brushing. Try keeping a small bottle of mouthwash at work to refresh your breath and clean your teeth throughout the day, particularly after lunch. Flossing once a day will also help to remove any excess food between the teeth, which the brush won't reach.
2. Brush All Over
Failing to brush both in front of the teeth, behind them, the tongue and the gum line is a major reason bacteria and plaque build up over time; causing gum disease and bad breath. When brushing use various motions to dislodge food debris and clean the teeth from multiple angles. When brushing the tongue try to use the bristles to scrape of the bacteria, rinsing in water after each stroke. This will stop you transferring the bacteria to other parts of the mouth and help to freshen your breath, as bacteria can create unpleasant malodour and also contribute to teeth discolouration.
3. Rinse and Spit
For many of us a refreshing glass of orange juice follow by a nice cup of coffee is the perfect start to the day. Unfortunately dark coloured liquids such as coffee can contribute to teeth discolouration whilst acidic fruits and foods can eat away at the enamel on the teeth. Brushing straight away can actually remove the weakened enamel, however rinsing the mouth with water is a good way to remove excess acid. Alternatively try drinking any sugary or acidic drinks through a straw to minimise contact with the teeth. However, when brushing try not to rinse your mouth with water, the fluoride in the toothpaste will continue to work long after the brushing has finished.
4. Wash and Floss
Whilst using mouthwash and dental floss isn't essential if you follow the tips mentioned, they are an effective supplement to brushing. Try keeping a small bottle of mouthwash at work to refresh your breath and clean your teeth throughout the day, particularly after lunch. Flossing once a day will also help to remove any excess food between the teeth which the brush won't reach.