Brushing and flossing are important parts of your oral hygiene routine, but there are other essential elements as well. To best maintain your oral health and help keep your teeth and gums disease-free, follow the steps outlined by our Winnipeg dentists below.
Brushing
Brushing your teeth is probably the most important thing you can do every day to maintain your oral health. Brush your teeth two or three times a day, for two minutes at a time.
For optimal results, brush each quadrant (upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left) of your teeth for 30 seconds. Brush each tooth's exposed surfaces, including the front, back, and biting surfaces.
Tip: Try an Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush makes teeth cleaning easier. They require less effort than manual brushes because they automatically perform the proper brushing motion. Choose an electric toothbrush with a rotating, spherical head, as this produces the optimal circular brushing motion.
In addition, because the head is quite small, it’s easier to clean those awkward, hard-to-reach spots, like your back molars, and the backs of your front teeth.
Flossing
You should floss at least once a day, preferably at night before bed. Flossing dislodges food debris and build-up from between your teeth, in the places your toothbrush can’t reach.
Insert the floss between two teeth and pull it into a "c" shape in both directions by passing it up and down the side of each tooth. Proceed carefully and thoroughly, flossing between every two teeth.
Professional Dental Cleanings & Check-ups
Visiting the dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and check-up is essential to maintaining oral health.
Your dentist has the expertise and tools required to remove plaque and tartar build-up that you can't remove yourself with brushing and flossing.
If you visit your dentist frequently enough, he or she will also be able to identify dental problems in their early stages and treat them before they worsen. In their early stages, oral health issues such as cavities, gum disease, and even tumours, cysts, and other abnormalities are frequently not visible to the untrained eye; therefore, it is essential to have your mouth evaluated regularly by a dental professional.
Diet
Eating a healthy diet that’s rich in calcium helps keep your teeth healthy from the inside out. Restrict consumption of sugars and starches, because oral bacteria thrive on these.
Hydration
Staying hydrated can aid in cavity prevention! Water helps you maintain a sufficient saliva flow, and saliva washes away food particles that collect on your teeth and allow bacteria to proliferate.
Supplementary Hygiene Aids
Oral hygiene aids are additions to your brushing and flossing routine. Good examples of supplementary hygiene aids include tongue cleaners, mouthwash, interdental cleaners, and oral irrigators.
These aids can help you maintain fresh breath and prevent plaque accumulation between brushing and flossing. Although they are not adequate replacements for a thorough brushing and flossing routine, they can certainly enhance it.