Don’t Ignore Oral Hygiene, Ignore 10 Mistakes!

Oral hygiene is as important as any other daily activity of living. But it is one thing not taken very seriously, as in most of the instances people are okay with brushing their teeth only once a day. Flossing is something that that doesn’t even ring a bell to many. Due to little knowledge, people often end up compromising with their oral health. So, knowing just simple what “not-to-do things” can help keep oral health in good shape.

“As brushing is important for keeping teeth in shape, likewise tongue cleaning is important for ensuring proper oral health. Even if simple things are kept in mind, and a few things are avoided, it can help maintain healthy oral state. But people do not take proper care, mainly because of lack of awareness,” says Dr Inderpreet Kaur, Axiss Dental.

• Two-minute brushing: Avoid too much brushing as it will not lead to whiter teeth, but only steal your enamel away. Losing enamel layer is the first step to tooth decay. So play cautious. Brushing for two minutes is more than enough. 

• Stick to twice a day brushing routine: Do not become content with one time brushing in the morning. Make a habit of brushing teeth before going to sleep too. If not done, the food particles stay lodged in teeth for whole night, letting acids play havoc with teeth. 

 Brush properly: Brushing should be a wholesome exercise, involving inner, outer and the chewing surface. Only brushing the outer layer is a very wrong approach as food particles can get stuck anywhere and when not removed will result in plaque.

• Do not avoid tongue cleaning: Tongue is another area in the mouth that should not be ignored. After brushing and rinsing the mouth, tongue cleaning should be the very next thing to do. If you don’t, you invite bacteria to breed here.
• Make flossing a habit: Do not avoid flossing your teeth as food particles which get stuck in between the teeth is hard to be removed with toothbrush. So floss teeth at least once a day, though doing so twice is always better.
• Brush after a gap of having meal: Some eatables are good at producing acids. Brushing immediately after consuming those food items put teeth at the risk of abrasion. So brushing should always be done after a gap of consuming food.
• Say no to hard-bristled toothbrush: Always choose your toothbrush with caution. A hard-bristled toothbrush will not only damage your precious enamel layer, but also hurt the gums. So spend your money and a little time on buying a right toothbrush.
• Take care of your toothbrush too: Never keep your toothbrush and tongue cleaner at an unclean place as it may be an invitation to harmful bacteria. Always, rinse your toothbrush before and after brushing and let it dry.
• Rinse mouth after eating: Not rinsing mouth after meals allows food particles to stay for a longer duration and produce acids which are disastrous for your teeth. Acid is the culprit which erodes your enamel and makes way for cavities.
• See a dentist twice a year: Avoiding a dentist is just about not being serious about your oral health. Normally, you should see a dentist every six months. A visit to the dentist could help you fight plaque, which doesn’t get removed with mere brushing. Also, any oral health problem, including tooth decay and gum diseases, also come to light in initial stages if dentist is visited regularly.