Most dentists agree, the best way to maintain good oral health is preventative care. Maintaining a program of preventative oral care will ensure that teeth and gums stay healthy for a lifetime. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize what they need to be doing to protect their teeth. Below are some common sense oral health best practices that everyone should adopt.
Daily Brushing And Flossing
Brushing twice a day is the best preventative measure anyone can adopt. The teeth should be brushed for a minimum of 2-3 minutes. The best toothbrush to use is a soft-bristle toothbrush with a small head and a long handle.
Flossing is important because it removes plaque in areas that can’t be reached with a toothbrush. Teeth should be flossed gently with an ADA approved floss.
Prevent Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is a serious condition that can significantly reduce the mouths natural ability to fight off bacteria. That’s because human saliva contains compounds that slow the growth of bacteria. If that saliva isn’t present, then bacteria is allowed to run free.
If a person has a problem with dry mouth, they should consider using a rinse specifically designed for this problem or chew gum that contains the sugar-less sweetener xylitol. Both of these increase the amount of saliva the person’s mouth produces.
Tongue Scraping
Few people pay attention to their tongue when taking care of their oral health, but it is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. The tongue can have thousands of bacteria on it that aren’t removed by brushing. To remove them, all a person has to do is buy a tongue scraper and use it on a daily basis.
Use An Antiseptic Mouth Rinse
Using an antiseptic mouth wash on a daily basis can slow or eliminate many forms of mouth bacteria. However, caution should be exercised when using them because many of them contain alcohol and that can cause the mouth to dry out. Fortunately, there are many great mouth washes on the market that don’t contain alcohol at all.
Visit Your Dentist
Getting preventive dental care El Paso is as simple as visiting the dentist. Dentists are the first line of defense against the progression of gingivitis and other oral health problems. Dentist not only clean the teeth, but they also check for potential problems that may just be developing.
Following the above guidelines will allow anyone to enjoy healthy teeth and gums for their entire life. These are steps that are not only easy to perform but also only take a few minutes of time. Not a high price to pay for good overall oral health.
