Oral Health Care Maintenance
A beautiful smile is important, it may be one of the first things someone will notice about you, or you about them. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being.
A daily preventive care routine should include brushing and flossing. This will help stop problems, such as decay or gum infections and bad breath, before they can develop.
Did you know that most people suffer from bad breath on occasions, however for some it’s more frequent than others. Approximately 30% of the population have chronic bad breath, some may not even be aware that they have it until someone comments on it, which can lead to embarrassment!
Try the following steps to improve on your oral health and to prevent bad breath:
- Brush at least twice a day, a small headed tooth brush with soft, round-ended bristles is more effective. Your toothbrush should be changed every 2-3 months.
- Floss at least once a day. The correct flossing technique can removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth.
- Include a mouthwash each day as part of your oral health care routine. Mouthwashes containing ingredients such as chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, zinc chloride and triclosan have been proven to be most effective.
- Use a plastic tongue scraper or soft brush to clean the tongue, you need to get it as far back as possible to clear the coating that may have built up.
- Some people chew sugar-free gum after each meal the chewing action helps increase saliva which to flush the mouth and clear any debris remaining from meals.
- If you wear dentures, orthodontic appliance or have a bridge, then clean thoroughly as directed by Brackenwood.
- Drink plenty of water. This will keep your mouth moist, but be sure to consume plenty of water - not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol. If you have chronic dry mouth, a dentist at Brackenwood or your doctor may additionally prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
- Schedule regular dental checkups, at least twice a year with Brackenwood to have your teeth, gums or dentures examined and cleaned.
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