Tips To Maintain Good Oral Health

Having good oral hygiene habits can help to prevent cavities and gum disease. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can prevent problems such as plaque buildup that can lead to cavities. It is also important to visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams. Here are the major practices that help maintain good oral hygiene. 

• Disciplined brushing and flossing

Brushing and flossing are easy and effective ways to care for your teeth and gums every day. However, when you skip out on your daily oral hygiene routine, plaque can begin to build up on your teeth, and the acids in plaque can begin to eat away at your tooth enamel and irritate your gums. Once this happens, tooth damage can occur that will eventually require a restorative dental treatment to restore your smile to its former health and beauty.

That’s why it’s so important to be disciplined with your oral care by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing once a day. 

• Use a mouthwash

Using mouthwash is an excellent way to keep your smile healthy and clean in between your dental exams and cleanings. Although it is not recommended that you use mouthwash as a replacement for brushing and flossing, it is an excellent addition to your daily oral health regimen. A mouthwash can be a great tool to fight bad breath and improve the health of your gums. However, it is important to use the right one. Many over-the-counter types of mouthwash contain alcohol, which can dry out your mouth and cause irritation. Instead, choose a high-quality mouthwash that does not contain alcohol and kills the bacteria that cause plaque formation and gingivitis. 

• Regular dental checkups

Regularly visiting your dentist is the best way to maintain good oral health. When you go in for regular checkups, your dental hygienist can thoroughly clean your teeth and help you develop a good oral hygiene routine at home. When you visit the dentist, you can ask any questions that you may have about your oral health and how to maintain it between visits.

Your dentist can also look for any signs that you might have an issue with your oral health and can then recommend the appropriate treatment to correct the problem. By seeing the dentist regularly, you can rest assured that any problems will be caught early and treated right away before they develop into more serious issues. You may also be able to avoid having to go through more complex treatments later by going in for regular checkups.

• Maintain a balanced diet

By making good dietary choices, you can lower the risks of getting gum diseases, cavities, and other oral-related diseases. Eating foods that are rich in calcium can help you preserve bone mass and oral health. Some foods that can provide you with a source of calcium include yogurt, cheeses, milk, broccoli, sardines, and kale. Also a diet rich in fiber can also help in avoiding tooth decay.

• Quit tobacco usage

Cigarettes and chewing tobacco contain nicotine, which is extremely damaging to your oral tissues. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels in the gums and cheeks, making it difficult for oxygen and nutrients to reach the tissues in your mouth. Over time, your gums will become weaker and more susceptible to infection. Additionally, smokers are far more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. Therefore, quitting smoking or chewing tobacco altogether can help protect your smile from numerous oral health issues.

Please reach out to our dental practice in Pleasanton, CA, to have a consultation with our dentist in Pleasanton, CA. Please call us at (925) 600-9006 or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll guide you further.