Dental hygiene is one of the most essential aspects of your everyday life. It won’t be wrong to say that a healthy mouth and a healthy body are interrelated. There is plenty of scientific evidence also in this regard.

Just like you are what you eat, your mouth is a gateway to a healthy body.

Here are a few aspects that comprise dental hygiene

Brushing twice a day

You need to brush twice a day. Brushing in the morning is essential for a fresh breath and a fresh feel. It’s a great start to a refreshing day.

Brushing at night is even more important and is mandatory. Before going to bed, you need to clear all the food remnants in your mouth. Otherwise, your mouth becomes a playground for harmful bacteria at night. Bacteria feed on the food remnants, release acid and cause tooth decay as well as bad breath.

When you are asleep, your mouth produces lesser saliva than what it produces during the day. Less saliva makes it easier for the bacteria to thrive. If you don’t want decayed teeth and bad breath, you should brush thoroughly at night.

Clean your tongue

Always remember to clean your tongue after brushing. The tongue could harbour a lot of bacteria and food debris and it is essential to clean.

Flossing

Flossing is another integral part of oral hygiene. Flossing cleans the interdental spaces and removes plaque and food material stuck in between your teeth. Thus, it prevents decay in between your teeth/ interdental spaces.

Flossing is a process wherein you wrap the thread-like floss between the longest fingers of both your hands and use your thumbs and index fingers to clean the interdental spaces. You should floss once a day using good quality floss.

Diet

A healthy diet is not just essential for your body but also essential for your teeth. Wholesome, fibre-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help your mouth produce more saliva. The fibre also ensures the food doesn’t stick much to your teeth and prevent cavities.

On the contrary, refined foods, including biscuits, sugar, chocolates, and sweets stick to the biting surfaces of your teeth and are difficult to clean thoroughly. They can easily cause cavities.

Improper oral hygiene and poor diet cause cavities, gingivitis/ swollen, bleeding gums and also hamper your system. Plenty of research has confirmed that poor oral health increases sugar levels, heart disease, and other systemic diseases. The good news is that just by improving your oral hygiene, you can reduce the risk of such diseases and bring an improvement in the markers of such diseases! Several scientific studies confirm the same.

Remember to use

The right toothbrush: Usually, soft bristles are most suitable to all ages The right toothpaste: Fluoride-rich toothpastes are recommended as fluoride is proven to reduce decay. The right floss: Waxed floss is always better. The right brushing techniques: You should never apply excess pressure as it can wear out teeth by causing trauma. You should apply just enough pressure to clean your teeth.A healthy mouth is a gateway to a healthy body! Please meet us at Ponsonby Dental Boutique today for more details on brushing techniques and the customized guide to achieve the best oral health.