Oral Health: Basic Dental Care

Introduction

According to CDC, Oral health refers to the health of the teeth, gums, and the entire oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew. Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer

Basic dental care involves

1. Brushing
2. Flossing
3. Rinsing
4. Eating properly

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
Antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis.
Fluoride mouth rinses help reduce and prevent tooth decay.

Proper Technique for Brushing

1. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
2. Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
3. Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
4. Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up- and-down stroke.
5. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath
6. Brush minimum 2x daily

Proper Technique for Flossing

1. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
2. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
3. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
4. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
5. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
6. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.