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.

What is Good Oral Hygiene?
Good oral hygiene in the mouth, if you can see and feel in the mouth, means that the teeth are clean and free of dirt; gums are pink and don’t hurt or bleed; and bad breath is not a constant problem. If your gums, when brushing teeth, bleed or often have bad breath; this may mean that the problem is in the mouth.

Why is oral hygiene important?

Here are some reasons why you should have a good oral hygiene:

Prevent Oral Cancer: When you have your dental cleaning, your dentist is also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.
Prevent Gum Disease: Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and reversed.
Prevent Plaque and calculus: Dental plaque is a soft whitish deposit that forms on the surface of teeth. It forms when bacteria (germs) combine with food and saliva. Plaque contains many types of bacteria. You can remove plaque by good oral hygiene. Calculus, sometimes called tartar, is hardened calcified plaque. It sticks firmly to teeth. Generally, it can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist with special instruments.
Prevent Tooth Decay (Caries): Tooth decay is the gradual breakdown of the tooth’s enamel and interior tissue that can cause cavities and, eventually, the death of the tooth. A main cause of tooth decay is due to a build up of plaque. The bacteria in the plaque consume sugar from food residue in the mouth and excrete lactic acid, which becomes part of the plaque layer. If plaque isn’t removed, the acid dissolves the tooth’s enamel and inflames the gum tissue.
Help Maintain Good Physical Health: Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene.
Prevent Bad Breath: Bad breathe, also known as halitosis, is caused by poor oral hygiene.
Good oral hygiene prevents cavities: One of the most obvious reasons to practice good oral hygiene is to prevent cavities.
Have a Bright and White Smile: Your dental hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains. During your cleaning, your hygienist will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine.
What can you do to maintain good dental hygiene?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. It is important to get into a regular habit of good oral hygiene. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being.

Brushing teeth properly

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-medium brush. It is usually advised that you should use a toothpaste that contains fluoride (fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay). Spend at least two minutes brushing, covering all areas (inside, outside, and biting areas of each tooth). Pay particular attention to where the teeth meet the gums. Get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months or when bristles become out of shape, whichever is earlier.

Flossing

Floss your teeth at least once a day after brushing, and preferably twice a day. Dental floss helps clean between the teeth. If you are not sure how to floss, then ask your dentist.

Use a piece of floss (looks a bit like cotton thread) about eight inches long which you can pull between teeth. Wrap the ends around the middle fingers of each hand. Gently scrape the floss against the sides of each tooth from the gum outwards. This will clean the narrow spaces between the teeth which toothbrushes cannot get to. The gums may bleed a little when you first begin to floss. This should settle within a few days. However, if it persists then see a dentist.

Other things you can do

There are other simple steps that you can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:

Visit your dentist for regular check ups and cleanings.
Try to have nutritious food (vegetables and fresh fruits). In particular, you should limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks that you have. Also, remember fruit juices are more erosive than whole fruits.
Try to avoid soft drinks.
Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Antimicrobial mouth rinses can help prevent gingivitis.
Quit smoking and don’t use any tobacco products; they can increase your risk of gum disease and cancer of the mouth and throat.
Some fruits such as strawberries are excellent tooth whiteners. Strawberries can be rubbed on the teeth or mashed up in a paste and brushed on. Leave on the teeth for five minutes. Rinse well.
Eating sweetened cereals dry is bad for teeth, always add milk.
Drinking frequent cups of tea or coffee with sugar added will increase the risk of teeth decay.
Don’t chew on hard objects that could crack a tooth.
Brush or scrape your tongue daily to help remove bacteria.
Don’t ignore gums that bleed when you brush or floss or changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
Drinks lots of water. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal or snack to make sure no food residue is sticking to your teeth.
Don’t chew on pens or pencils. It is a good way to damage the teeth.
So make good oral hygiene a habit, brush after every meal and then floss. Not only will you prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but you will become more confident in your social dealings as well.