Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and healthy by brushing and flossing to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
The purpose of good oral hygiene:
Clean teeth without plaque and food debris
Pink, healthy gums that do not bleed during brushing, flossing or spontaneously.
Pleasant breath
If you do not have these, then visit your hygienist because a problem exists.
A hygienist’s job is to instruct you on the best way to take care of your teeth and prevent oral diseases, she will notify you of the places in your mouth that require more attention when brushing or flossing and also effective techniques for both. It is also a hygienists responsibility to remove any deposits, plaque or tartar, causing gum disease.
1. Tooth brushing
Place the toothbrush vertically on the teeth at the point where the tooth meets the gums and angle to 45 degrees. Brush softly with circular movements.
The bristles of the toothbrush should sweep gently around the gum margin without causing trauma.
Brush the outer, inner and finally the top surfaces of your teeth. Avoid jumping to different areas of your mouth as this makes it more difficult to remember which teeth you have cleaned.
Do not forget to brush your tongue.
2. Tongue brushing
Only 10% of people brush their tongue. It is clinically proven that tongue brushing eliminates the bacteria causing bad breath.
3. Mouthwash
Your hygienist will tell you what kind of mouthwash you will need, depending on the condition of your teeth.
Brushing only removes the bacteria from your teeth and tongue but they are still present in your mouth. Mouthwash helps to kill the bacteria.
There are various types of mouthwash available for sensitive teeth, gum disease, high risk of decay. We can recommend the most suitable one for you.
4. Flossing or interdental brushes.
The bristles of a regular toothbrush are unable to reach and clean the proximal (in between) surfaces of our teeth. This is the reason why 60% of decay begins on these surfaces. The only way to clean them is to use floss or even more effective, interdental brushes.
5. Fluoride
Fluoride is the best weapon against tooth decay. It protects our teeth against the acids which cause decay. Parents should be aware of the power of fluoridation treatments for children which should be done every 6 months at the dental office.
We will be writing an entire article dedicated to fluoride in the future.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding your own or your child’s dental health.
Mrs. Gillian Deans
Dental Hygienist at Stylianou Dental Clinic
+357 23 822 111
