General Dental Informtion

Oral Hygiene

dentist checking patient teeth

One of the most important sections of maintaining your body is oral hygiene. Without a doubt, it is essential. In fact, inattention to oral hygiene will cause serious problems. The teeth should be brushed properly. Regular care should be given for oral hygiene. In addition to tooth brushing, the correct use of dental floss is also important now, as the floss can help remove pieces of food from interdental spaces and prevent decay.

If you maintain good oral hygiene activity, but suffer from bad breath or other oral complications, visit a specialist as soon as possible. In some cases, bad breath and oral diseases are not caused merely by noncompliance with oral hygiene. In fact, some specific diseases result in certain complications that can easily be diagnosed by dentists. Who will then prescribe appropriate treatments. In some other cases, medical complications may emerge if a person fails to brush his/her teeth properly.

a woman is brushing her teeth to maintain good oral hygiene

Importance of Oral Hygiene

You should use fluoride toothpaste for oral hygiene. Never use cold and hot foods immediately in a row. If you suffer from aphthous stomatitis or any kinds of oral ulcers that are not eradicated with a mouthwash at home, you should immediately contact your dentist. In some cases, negligence in treatment may exacerbate the symptoms.

Oral hygiene is essential, as it guarantees dental aesthetics and personal health. A toothbrush and dental floss are two key elements of oral hygiene. They should be used correctly on a daily basis. You can prevent the decay and destruction of your teeth by complying with simple points constantly. This can finally help you avoid hefty costs of treatment for tooth decay. You can be saved from dental costs and dental treatments by maintaining oral hygiene on a daily basis.

Important Tips on Oral Hygiene

Here we present some important tips on oral hygiene to help you have healthy teeth.

You are advised to brush your teeth at least three times a day (i.e., once after each meal). The best time to brush your teeth is at most 20 minutes after a meal. If you eat ice cream or sweets, brush your teeth immediately or at least wash your mouth with water or mouthwash, as the sugar in such cosmetics will badly harm your teeth.

It is essential to brush your teeth before bedtime to maintain oral hygiene because microbes will have a better chance to destroy the teeth at night when the mouth is closed. Use various types of toothpaste, as microbes will not be resistant to the new type of toothpaste.

toothbrush and toothpaste next to human teeth

If there is no toothpaste on hand, a good substitute is the following. Use salt water, in many cases, using salt water as toothpaste whitens the teeth and eradicates microbes entirely.

Additionally, to increase your oral hygiene is to visit a dentist regularly on a yearly basis. This goes for with complications or without, and do not forget the yearly visit to a dental clinic.

Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Treatment

When or if you have braces, look at your mouth in the mirror. With a little attention, it’s clear to see that orthodontic archwires and/or brackets have holes and dents in which pieces of food and harmful bacteria might be stuck. Due to that same reason, bracket users have higher risks to tooth decay and gum diseases. Thus, leading to higher and special attention being paid to oral hygiene and diet during the orthodontic treatment. Always try to ask your orthodontist for helpful advice.

two types of toothbrushes suitable for cleaning orthodontic teeth

Long-term problems and cavities may appear in the teeth if the enamels and brackets are not taken care of properly during the orthodontic treatment. They should be cared for even after the orthodontic treatment is over. The enamel loses its vital minerals if it is not taken care of properly, so the first decay stage starts with unpleasant white stains. In most advanced stages, the decay causes gums to swell and bleed. But if decay and gum bleeding are not severe, they can be eradicated through the necessary strategies advised by an orthodontist, special care, and a specific diet. If the problems persist, more serious complications will emerge in the future.

Importance of Proper Diet in Oral Hygiene during Orthodontic Treatment

Everyone will hear this, “high-sugar foods and drinks cause your teeth to decay”. Whether it’s by your orthodontist, or a friend. It’s true nonetheless. Starchy foods such as french fries, rice, and more stick to the teeth for a long period of time. Causing decay at rapid times but acidic drinks such as soda (i.e., either dietary or regular), sports beverages, and fruit juices are more dangerous. If they used constantly or in large amounts for a short period of time, they may make the enamel fall.

chopped food on two plates

An effective factor in preventing tooth decay is saliva. As you can make it work to help maintain oral hygiene. For saliva to function correctly, it should be given a chance to remove acidic compounds from the mouth. This causes you to change your eating habits, but the results will be great. Additionally, divide your meals by longer intervals. In regular treatments, patients are advised to eat three main meals and two snacks a day. They are also advised to drink lots of water after each meal. These tips are meant to give saliva the chance to digest and cleanse the mouth. The body is also able to acquire the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Oral Hygiene FAQ

1-What tips should be observed to maintain oral hygiene?

The most important tip in oral hygiene is to brush and floss the teeth. Using a mouthwash can also help effectively clean teeth and gums. The mouthwash should be used once a day after tooth brushing and flossing and before bedtime.

2-What role does a mouthwash play in oral hygiene?

The disinfectant mouthwash can be very useful for eradication of irritation and recovery of gums because they remove the residual pieces of food and allow gums and oral mucosa to experience a natural recovery procedure.

3-Are regular visits to a dentist effective in oral hygiene?

Yes. Whether you have treatments ongoing, or don’t, everyone should regularly visit your dentist every six months for the checkup. As it’s possible tooth decay and gum disease, or more.

4-What role does a diet have in oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment?

You should avoid hard comestibles such as nuts, corn, and popcorn in addition to sticky comestibles such as chewing gum, Gaz (i.e., a sweet sticky snack from Isfahan Province, Iran), and toffee. You can chop up some hard fruits such as apples and carrots before eating them. If sweet comestibles remain near brackets and archwires, they can increase the tooth decay risk.

5-Why is it necessary to use fluoride mouthwash for oral hygiene?

The fluoride in a mouthwash remains on the tooth surface and prevents decay.

Dr Abdolreza Jamilian Orthodontist

About Dr Abdolreza Jamilian Orthodontist

Dr. Jamilian, an orthodontist, has a specialized fellowship in orthodontic surgery and maxillofacial abnormalities and is a professor in the orthodontics department of the Dentistry School of the Islamic Azad University. He is member of Iranian and European Board of Orthodontics (EBO) and is a member of the Iranian, American and European Orthodontists Association.

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