Maintaining Oral Health

Good oral hygiene is an essential part of a person’s overall personal hygiene. Bad breath can affect your confidence and self esteem. There are many factors that contribute to bad odor in the mouth including cavities, gum disease, a person’s diet and to a certain extent, diseases or conditions in the stomach, sinuses or lungs.

Here are simple tips to help you achieve and maintain proper oral hygiene;

1. Brush Your Teeth

Brush Teeth
Brush Teeth

Dental experts agree that you should brush your teeth after every meal or at least twice a day. Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. You can also use an electric toothbrush especially if you have not yet mastered proper brushing techniques. Clean all faces of the teeth, brushing thoroughly from top to bottom, left to right. Pay particular attention to hard to reach areas such as areas near the wisdom teeth. Research shows that 90% of bacteria are not on teeth. Remember to brush the cheeks, gums and the tongue.

2. Floss

Dental Floss
Dental Floss

Carrying dental floss in your pocket or in your purse is a good practice. Using dental floss to reach between the teeth helps remove food particles that are difficult to reach or remove by brushing. This is especially helpful if you are not able to brush your teeth in a particular place.

3. Rinse

Mouthwash
Mouthwash

Brushing regularly and rinsing with water is not enough. To achieve total mouth cleanliness, it is recommended to rinse with mouthwash. Rinsing with mouthwash helps kill bacteria that breeds in between teeth, at the back of the tongue and other areas in the mouth that can not be reached by brushing alone. It also helps fight tooth decay and the development of gingivitis. Some mouthwash contains alcohol. This is the reason why some mouthwash sting or leave a burning sensation in the mouth. If this is a concern, choose products that are alcohol free. Check on the active ingredients of the products because some products rely on flavorings to mask the bad odor. Mouthwash that contains CPC kills the bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque.

Visit your dentist regularly. Have your dentist check on your brushing technique and oral hygiene routines. Persistent odor could be a symptom of an underlying problem such as rotten teeth or gum problems. Your dentist may need to perform a procedure to correct the problem or repair dentures and prescribe medications.

source :
- body-hygiene.com

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