Oral Hygiene - A Necessary Practice

Good oral hygiene is the best way in preventing the build-up of plaque that causes bad breath due to the formation of bacteria within the oral cavity.  The main cause is poor oral hygiene as our oral cavity would need frequent attention and special everyday maintenance. Negligence as well as inability to maintain good oral hygiene increases your risk of having gum problems as well as other oral diseases like tooth cavities and halitosis.

Practice of good oral hygiene starts from knowing the right and correct techniques of toothbrushing and flossing. Brushing and flossing your teeth will help remove food particles that were left in between your teeth and it prevents calcification of food debris which develops into plaque or tartar.

Bubble gums and mint candies are not effective alternatives for toothbrushing and flossing as they only contribute to bacterial growth and are good sources of food for them.  

Drink plenty of water as it acts as a neutral element and it properly hydrates your oral mucosa. Try to swoosh it around your mouth to help loosen any food particles that increase the number of bacteria in your mouth.

Try visiting your dentist at least twice a year to give you an update of your oral cavity's condition. It gives you more confidence when you feel that everything in you most especially your teeth are healthy and that you don't have to cover your mouth when talking with friends and colleagues because of bad breath. You have to start with an efficient oral hygiene and routine that will keep you away from oral diseases and illnesses.

Special Toothbrushing Techniques

Did you ever wonder why you still have plaque or tartar on your teeth even if you brush three times daily? Or
Worst have that odorous smell or bad breath even when you swish mouth rinses frequently?

Here's the thing-- studies show that the amount of bacteria being removed does not depend on how many times you brush or gargle mouth rinses, but the quality of your toothbrushing technique.

You have to make sure that you have brushed every surface of each tooth and spent at least 10-15 seconds on each quadrant of your dentition. Make sure to buy soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid abrasion of your teeth surfaces which causes enamel to weaken, hence, bacterial invasion sets in. For children you can have them sing ( in their mind ) their favorite song and wait for it to finish before rinsing. This at least assures you that your child didn't just brush, but cleaned their teeth thoroughly.

Pregnancy and Oral Health

During pregnancy, women experience slight gingivitis and some might experience bleeding gums.
This is because there is a great effect of the hormones during pregnancy causing the gums to swell. This just means that pregnant women are prone to bacterial invasion with the inflamed gums. It attracts food debris to easily access the periodontal pockets causing it to build tartar and plaque.

Such is called "Pregnancy Gingivitis". This is usually noticed on the second month of pregnancy and might get worse up to the eighth month. This is caused by the increased levels of  Progesterone up to 10 times the normal level making the periodontal lining become hyperplastic.

Certain preventive measures can help minimize swelling of the gums. Pregnant women should consult their dentist at least every trimester to check and measure the development of gingivitis. Oral prophylaxis and good oral hygiene can also help.

Flossing Helps You Fight Stress

Recent studies have shown that flossing once daily will help decrease tension and stress. Of course you would need to do it correctly. Flossing meticulously cleans the gum lines and vertical walls of the teeth as this can access those which can't be cleaned by toothbrushing alone.

Ask your dentist to teach you the right way to floss your teeth then you will notice the minimal exposure of plaque as well as halitosis (bad breath).