Having poor oral care can significantly impact not only your physical health but also your psychological welfare. It can cause different ailments and conditions that can adversely affect your oral health. At the same time, it can also degrade your self-esteem since you do not have the confidence to smile at everyone.

With that, protecting your teeth is an important thing to do. Here are the five basic ways to take care of your teeth and some techniques to maximize your oral health care.

Brushing Your Teeth

This is probably the most basic oral care you can do. Brushing can keep the area where your gums and teeth meet clean that will prevent gum diseases. It can also make the surfaces of your teeth clean, avoiding the accumulation of cavities that can cause oral diseases.

Experts recommend brushing your teeth for around two minutes, twice a day. Any excessive brushing can lead to your teeth getting damaged instead of keeping them clean and healthy. It would be best also to clean your tongue using your toothbrush or tongue scraper at the back of it, which most people forget to do.

Regarding the proper equipment, it is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles. You may also consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush for more efficiency in reducing plaque.

Meanwhile, most people do not know the good techniques in brushing. You hold your soft-bristled toothbrush and place it at a slight angle, probably around 45 degrees, to the part where your teeth and gums meet. Start brushing gently in circular short back-and-forth strokes.

If you have dental fillings, you can still apply the procedures above. But make sure to take extra care by brushing gently to avoid scratches on your fillings. Make sure as well that your gums are fully recovered before brushing.

When it comes to changing your toothbrush, you need to replace it every three to four months or when the bristles are already worn out and losing their stiffness. For an electric toothbrush head, you can replace it every 12 weeks.

Flossing Your Teeth and Gums

The bristles on your toothbrush are not capable of going into tight spaces between your teeth and under your gums to get rid of the dirt there. You have to clean those areas because bacteria may live there, and that will cause diseases. To have cleaner teeth, using dental floss will not disappoint you.

In using this, wind your 18-inch floss to the middle or index finger of both hands. Take a grip of the floss using your thumb and forefinger. Then, guide the floss between the teeth by rubbing gently without it snapping into your gums. Once the floss successfully reaches the gum line, you slowly curve it against the tooth. Slide the floss into the part or area between the teeth and rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down stroke.

If you find this difficult to do, you can go with interdental cleaning aids. Rubber picks, wooden interdental aids, oral irrigators, and other interdental brushes are a few alternatives. They are also effective in deep cleaning your teeth and gums to prevent various oral diseases.

Using Mouthwash

Mouthwashes are optional to use for most people, but they are actually important in keeping your teeth and whole mouth healthy and away from harm. Thus, incorporating mouthwash into your oral care routines can maximize the results of healthy and clean teeth and mouth.

But not all mouthwashes have the same component in fighting bacteria and viruses. Some are for the short term, and some have minimal effects. To make sure you are buying the right one for your oral care, you need to check the five essential ingredients: chlorhexidine, Citrox®, cyclodextrins, polymers, and hyaluronic acid.

Each ingredient has its purpose. Chlorhexidine fights bacteria; Citrox® breaks bacterial cell walls by destroying plaque and biofilm; cyclodextrins assist in deactivating viruses; polymers create protective films, and hyaluronic acid regenerates and humidifies tissues. 

Avoid Vices

Unhealthy habits can poorly damage your teeth and overall oral health. The vices like smoking and drinking will destroy your internal organs like the liver and lungs and your whole mouth and the parts inside.

The effects of smoking can pose a lot of risks to your gums. You will get prone to different gum diseases and even worse conditions like oral cancer. For alcohol damage, staining or discoloration on your teeth will occur, resulting in an unpleasant appearance. Your teeth will also get dry more often.

Get Checked by a Dentist

The safest thing to do to maintain your oral care is to consult with professionals. Dentists will surely guide you with everything on your concerns about your teeth and overall oral health. They can detect possible ailments, and they will treat them as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining your oral welfare is also keeping your overall health. Doing these basic ways to take care of your teeth will help you achieve healthy living with a great big smile painted on your face.