Three Golden Rules of Proper Dental Hygiene
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Healthy teeth and a great smile are the benefits of having good oral hygiene. We’re not all born with Hollywood smiles, but we all have a duty to maintain our mouths fresh and our teeth clean. Don’t be fooled by evenly spaced pearly-whites; crooked teeth are not the end of the world. Your teeth are only as attractive as you keep them healthy. Any irregularities or structural imperfections can be compensated for by having beautifully white teeth.
The next time you stop to talk to someone, notice how you are first struck by the appearance of his/her mouth and teeth. We are naturally wired for such automatic observation. Often it forces us to take in unsavory details including remnants of the person’s last meal (stuck between his/her teeth) or black gum-lines. Appearances apart, unhealthy teeth are home to acid-causing bacteria that trigger unpleasant mouth odors.
Three golden rules to a healthy smile are: Brushing, Flossing,Keeping an eye on the gums.
We all know just how important it is to properly clean and care for your teeth, and you might want to consider using state-of-the-art technology, such as Philips Sonicare Toothbrush, to get the best results possible. Let’s take a closer look at the 3 golden rules of oral hygiene.
When you are getting out of bed and into bed, remember to brush your teeth. All it takes is 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per brushing routine. It is crucial not to apply too much pressure on the toothbrush, as aggressive brushing damages teeth enamel. Circular motions during brushing are not as good as vertical movements. Brushing in a circular motion will lead to irritation of the gums because the bristles are brushing against the gum line instead of away from it. So for example if you are brushing your upper teeth, you should move your hand from top to bottom (starting from above the gum line), when brushing the lower – it is the opposite (starting from below the gum line).
Flossing is crucial to avoid plaque build-up and bacteria accumulation that causes gum diseases and bad odour. It is important to floss before bedtime and in between meals. Regular floss can be difficult to guide through very closely-spaced teeth. Try waxed floss for more painless cleaning.
There is now flossing tools available in the form of reusable plastic floss holders, which are great for people that have limited dexterity or only have one hand free when they are flossing.
Monitoring closely the state of your gums will allow early detection of a possible gum disease. Often, what starts off as unhealthy gums, develops into gingivitis. Neglect your gums further and you may be inviting larger dental problems like periodontitis. If you experience bleeding gums, shaky teeth or notice inflammation or swelling of gums , you should consult your dentist without delaying. It is much easier to prevent a problem that to deal with it afterwards. Maintaining proper oral hygiene will also help you avoid cavities, and related medical bills. Teeth serve a precious function, that of cutting up and crushing our food before swallowing.
Try to imagine how difficult it would be to eat without our teeth, we might choke of our food, and we would certainly suffer from digestive issues. Our teeth makes food intake easy and painless. Give your teeth the importance they deserve. Strive to follow the basic three rules of oral healthcare every day.


