Basics of oral hygiene - easy way to avoid dental problems and bad breath

The main reason for personal dental care is to save teeth from cavities. To do that and to keep your teeth healthy, you need to get rid of plaque, a nasty invisible layer of bacteria that covers the surface of your teeth.

There are two very effective ways to prevent plaque from forming – brushing the teeth twice a day (or even more often) and flossing once a day at minimum. Brushing your teeth also stimulates your gums, keeping them healthy and preventing gum diseases.

Some people’s tooth are sensitive to pressure and temperature, both cold and heat, and for these people there are toothpastes specially developed for sensitive teeth. Sensodyne is one of the popular sensitive tooth care product brands.

However, often in case of sensitive teeth a visit to the dentist will be the best solution. Then dentist can check if the sensitivity of the teeth may cause serious problems, e.g. nerve inflammation or severe cavity. Then dentist will suggest the optimal tooth care plan.

Toothpastes are usually made from foaming agents, detergents, and abrasives. The most popular active ingredient of toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride is responsible for strengthening the enamel and preventing cavities from forming. Please keep it in mind when buying the toothpaste, and check if the toothpaste you have chosen contains a great amount of fluoride.

Dentists have discovered that 1 out of every 10 people has a tendency to accumulate tartar on his teeth very rapidly. Wait! What is tartar? Tartar is the hardened form of plaque that is even more difficult to remove and dangerous to the well being of your teeth.

There are dental care products in the market meant to help prevent tartar formation, like anti-tartar toothpastes and special mouthwashes. I can tell you the secret which will prevent the formation of tartar even if you use regular fluoride toothpaste – when you are brushing the teeth, spend extra time brushing your teeth located near the salivary glands. This way you will stimulate the salivary glands and make them to produce more saliva which will help to flush away the tartar.

Historically brushing is considered to be the most important part of the oral care routine. Unfortunately brushing alone can not completely remove the plaque and food particles from places which are difficult to reach, for example under the gum line or between the teeth. Then flossing comes to rescue. Dentists suggest flossing your teeth at least once a day. You can decide if you want to floss before or after brushing – it is up to your personal preference.

You can choose from different kinds of flosses, depending on the space you have in between your teeth. If you have closely set teeth, you will benefit from unwaxed floss because as it is easier to glide through narrow spaces. Still you should be aware that ‘easier’ does not mean ‘better’. Dentists say that effectiveness of different flosses is nearly the same.

Important! Floss very carefully and try to avoid injuring your gums which can lead to bleeding and infection.  Gently curve the floss around the edges of your teeth. Form a letter "c" and glide the floss up and down the sides of each tooth. Don’t force the floss under the gums! Remember - the back sides of your teeth also requires flossing!

Actually maintaining your dental care routine is easy. The few things required are willingness and determination to achieve that wonderful pearly white smile.

And don’t be like the majority of people who are waiting for dental problems to appear and serve them as a reminder of importance of oral care.
Brush twice a day, floss every day, schedule visit to the dentist at least once a year, and you will be out of trouble!