Oral hygiene plays a vital role in maintaining and promoting good dental health. Most people believe that regular flossing and brushing are enough to fight tooth decay, but in reality, it is not.
Here at Washington Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, aside from performing professional cleanings, we are also open to sharing some tips on brushing, flossing, sensitive teeth care, oral hygiene products, and nutrition. We do this to help our patients keep their teeth, mouth, and other oral structures in tip-top shape!
Tips to Maintain a Good Oral Health
Master the basics: A person must practice good dental habits to prevent the development of tooth decay. For maximum teeth protection, brush twice a day, floss at least once, and rinse the mouth after eating.
Give attention to the gums and tongue: Keeping dental health in good shape is not only limited to caring for the teeth. Make sure to clean the gums, tongue, and other oral structures properly. If there are patches of red in the sink or if the gums feel tender, consult your dentist immediately.
Avoid sugary, starchy, or sticky treats: Bacterias feed on sugar to produce harmful acids which can erode the tooth surface (enamel). Foods that are sticky, sugary, and starchy has high sugar content so avoiding such can prevent tooth decay from occurring.
Visit a dentist regularly: Most people often go and see a dentist when they are already suffering from tooth pain. They should know that the best time to see a dentist is every six months even without any apparent dental troubles. Maintaining this practice allows the dentist to take good care of a patient’s overall oral wellness.
10 Interesting Dental Facts
- During the ancient times when toothbrushes were not a thing, people used tree twigs to clean their teeth. The tool was referred to as “chew sticks” because the twigs’ tip must be chewed first to spread out the fibers, which scrubs the teeth.
- To prevent tooth decay, people from the Middle Ages tend to boil a dog’s tooth in wine. They believe that it is an effective mouth rinse to avoid tooth decay.
- Irene Newman became the first dental hygienist during 1905. She was once a dental assistant that was taught to clean the teeth.
- Are you using your teeth as tools to open a bottle or cut objects? It’s a no-no. The enamel may be the hardest substance in the body, but it can still be compromised.
- More people prefer using blue toothbrushes than red ones.
- No two person are the same. Just like fingerprints, each person’s tongue print and teeth structure are unique; even twins!
- If you are flossing your teeth at least once daily, you can actually use a length of floss that is equivalent to the perimeter of one baseball diamond in a year!
- Most right-handed people chew their food using their right side while left-handed people, as you guessed it, chew on their left.
- It is suggested to brush the teeth for 2-3 minutes time, but an average person only cleans their teeth for 45-70 seconds per day.
- On average, Americans spends a total of 38.5 days brushing their teeth over a lifetime.
You deserve outstanding dental care services! Book your appointment with us at Washington Center for Cosmetic Dentistry and let us help you achieve beautiful and healthy teeth! For inquiries regarding our Oral Hygiene Services in Washington, DC, contact us.