Oral hygiene is fundamental for people´s health, as well as being necessary at an aesthetic and social level. An appropriate and daily use of toothbrush, dental floss and other products for oral hygiene avoids the appearance of a big number of pathologies.
What do we call oral hygiene?
We call oral hygiene or dental hygiene to the diary practises that aim to keep a healthy and clean mouth through tooth brushing, dental floss, mouthwashes, etc. The goal is the prevention of diseases such as cavities, gingivitis or periodontitis.
Oral hygiene prevents the plate accumulation in the teeth. The plate is an adhesive film of food debris and bacterias that accumulates on the teeth and generates acids that, if not removed, can deteriorate the dental protective surface.
To maintain good oral hygiene, it is also necessary to visit the doctor regularly for a more thorough mouth cleaning. In addition to eliminating the accumulated plaque and performing regular treatments, such as bridges or fillings, it can also perform diagnostic services to detect potential pathologies.
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When to start applying oral hygiene?
Oral hygiene must be present from childhood. More than 40% of children have cavities when they arrive at kindergarten, so it is essential that their parents inculcate the relevant hygiene habits since they begin to be minimally autonomous.
Even pregnant and nursing mothers need to be careful when taking medications, such as the antibiotic tetracycline, as they can cause tooth discoloration in the fetus or babies.
You must be careful when maintaining the oral hygiene of babies, since their gums and first teeth are very delicate. The right thing to do is to use a very soft toothbrush or a damp cloth, with a very small amount of toothpaste, as fluoride in excess can be toxic to children.
How to maintain oral hygiene?
- The ideal thing to do is to brush your teeth 3 times a day if possible after each meal. Cleaning should be thorough, but gentle, as a strong rubbing can damage or irritate the most sensitive oral tissues.
- Brushes should be changed every 3 months or so. The most suitable are those with soft, rounded nylon bristles. Every internal, external and flat surface of the teeth should be brushed.
- When it comes to flossing, it’s enough to use it once a day. Each pair of teeth should be inserted and gently moved up and down with a rubbing motion several times.
Oral hygiene is essential for the health of your teeth and gums, and of your entire body in general, as well as being your best letter of introduction to the world. A bright white smile opens more doors than the best resume, book an appointment here.
