Oral Hygiene

10 easy rules to follow

1. Floss, floss, floss. Even if your teeth appear to be clean, if you do not regularly floss, your teeth and gum line will be taken over by plaque.

2. Flossing can help prevent more serious ailments like gingivitis.

3. Gingivitis is caused when people practice poor dental hygiene.(Defined as gum inflammation)

4. Brush, brush, brush. Brushing your teeth properly also promotes a good dental hygiene regimen.

5. Make sure to use upward strokes when brushing the teeth on your lower jaw. This helps deflect plaque/tartar build up from forming on your gum line. Use downward strokes for the teeth on your upper jaw. (The same principle applies).

6. The American Dental Association recommends the use of soft tooth bristles. Soft bristles aid in massaging the gums, and are usually firm enough to remove plaque.

7. If you practice good dental hygiene, your teeth will be here long after you are not.

8. If you do not practice good oral hygiene, nasty plaque build up will harden and lead to calcium deposits that slowly eat away at your gum line, causing premature tooth loss.

9. Premature tooth loss is referred to as periodontal disease. Tooth loss is a preventable disease.

10. Mouth wash is optional. Personally, regular flavored Listerine is all you really need to keep your mouth fresh and in tip top shape.