OK, let’s take a picture together. Say ‘cheese’! Are you ready to present your gleaming pearly white smile? Of course, not all of us can mimic that perfect Academy Award smile on demand, but even worse is the sheer number of dental and oral related health issues that one day may prevent us from smiling even as much. Various gum disease, oral cancer, and bad breath which usually indicates other oral health problems can cause problems much more severe than simply smiling on family photos. Truth be told, for most people, it’s not about not caring about dental and oral hygiene, as it is about caring in the wrong way. Here are the A, B and C of proper dental care.
Use a proper brushing technique
Although the design and functionality of the toothbrush constantly evolve and improve, without the right technique, such as the one recommended by the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the price tag on your brush doesn’t really matter. Start with your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and use short back and forth strokes across the sides and tops of your teeth. After that, hold your brush vertically and use shorter strokes to focus on the backs of your teeth and the front anterior teeth, which is often the most neglected area.
Brush your mouth as well
Yes, you heard well. Apart from teeth, there are other areas in your mouth that need attention and care. There are your gums, your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Place the bristles of the brush at a 45-degree angle near the gum line, so that they cover both the gums and the teeth. Use back and forth and up and down movements. When you’re done, repeat the same thing on the inside surface of your teeth and gums. Continue brushing your tongue surface and the roof of your mouth, as this gets rid of bacteria that cause bad breath. Take care to brush your gums lightly, as vigorous brushing will do them more harm than good.
Have them checked regularly
Even if you’re doing everything right, some dental problems are out of your control, so a regular dental check-up guarantees that all possible issues are discovered and treated on time. Make a habit of visiting your selected dental care clinic once or twice a year for a full oral check-up and teeth cleaning. The dental check should always include the root canals, due to the number of complications that can be caused by an untreated root canal issue. If you choose an endodontist, root canal therapy is a procedure that offers you the benefits of keeping your natural teeth that always feel and perform better than dentures or implants.
Floss after meals
Even though brushing is essential in taking good care of our teeth, it’s not capable of tending to the interdental spaces, or the spaces in between teeth. This is where dental floss enters the fray. A quality dental floss helps you get rid of food residue and other detritus stuck between the teeth. They come in many variants, flavored and unflavored, waxed and unwaxed, multifilament and the more expensive single-filament. If you cannot choose, ask your dental specialist to recommend the type best suited for your teeth. Use pieces of floss up to 18 inches in length, so you can use fresh areas of floss every few teeth without reinserting the bacteria you’ve just removed.
A proper brushing technique that includes taking care of your oral cavity and tongue as well is the first step. Coupled with regular daily flossing, it’ll make you ready for a photo session at any time. However, regular visits to the dental clinic ensure that your teeth and mouth are healthy since not all dental issues are visible right from the beginning.
