Good oral hygiene is essential for maintaining good oral health. It helps prevent dental issues such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Good oral hygiene also prevents issues regarding bad breath. Listed below are some tips for maintaining good oral health.

• Brushing and flossing

Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, as well as floss at least once a day to remove food particles stuck between your teeth. When brushing, use a brush with a soft head and a small head to reach in between teeth. Consider using an electric toothbrush as they are more effective at cleaning the teeth.

You should floss your teeth at least once a day, preferably before bed. This removes food particles and plaque from between the teeth and along the gumline that a toothbrush isn’t able to reach. The buildup of plaque can cause bad breath or turn into tartar buildup that’s hard to remove without professional intervention. Plaque and calculus can also eventually harden into tartar that only a dentist can remove with a scaling and root planing treatment.

• Use a mouthwash

If using a mouthwash, look for an alcohol-free one that contains fluoride. Mouthwash can help remove harmful bacteria from the mouth besides avoiding bad breath and keeping the mouth fresh. 

• Regular dental checkups

In addition to brushing and flossing every day, you should see your dentist for regular checkups at least twice a year. Regular cleanings are important for getting rid of plaque buildup and preventing cavities. Your dentist can spot signs of tooth decay or gum disease at an early point and recommend treatments that will restore your oral health. Detecting oral health issues early can help to prevent the need for more invasive procedures later on down the road. More extensive dental care, like root canals and gum grafts, can often be avoided with regular care from your dentist. By scheduling regular dental visits every six months, you can keep your smile healthy and avoid the need for restorative treatment in the future.

• Eating healthy foods

While eating, you may have cravings for unhealthy foods like desserts or sugary drinks, but you have to remember that these foods can cause plaque buildup, which may lead to tartar and tooth decay. So make sure that you eat foods that are low in sugar content, like vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, seafood, lean meats, cheeses, etc., to maintain good oral health.

Also, sip water throughout the day instead of soda or juice as soda has high sugar content and juice is high in acid, which can cause damage to your teeth. Water is the best beverage you can drink as it helps in removing food particles from your mouth and the fluoride present in it helps in preventing tooth decay and cavities.

Roshan Emam D.D.S., located in Palo Alto, CA, is equipped with the best dentists and modern technologies that enable the best dental care treatments for patients. Call us at (650) 321-0340 and schedule an appointment with the dentist to know more.