By Abiel Maxi
Oral health is an important aspect of your overall well-being. Your teeth and gums play a vital role that helps in mastication, speech, and facial aesthetics. To maintain optimal oral health, you must take care of your teeth and the supporting structures like gums and alveolar bone. And as the saying goes, charity begins at home, and so does dental care!
Brookline general dentist offers compassionate and comprehensive care for oral rehabilitation and rejuvenation to improve your overall health and well-being.
Why is dental home care important?
Dental home care is a crucial aspect of your oral health and wellness. Inculcating good oral hygiene habits is essential to improve your dental health and overall well-being. Dental home care can successfully detect oral problems early and help avoid factors that could increase your risk.
Adopting routine oral care will keep your teeth free from bacteria, plaque, and calculus, which are the main causes of tooth decay and gum disease.
What are the essential steps for dental home care?
Dental home care is a group of practices and procedures that you can follow conveniently at home to keep your teeth and gums in ideal condition. Following these practices can keep you away from oral diseases, thereby saving you time and money from extensive dental procedures.
Dental home care habits include the following steps:
Regular tooth brushing
- The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests using a soft bristle brush and fluoridated toothpaste.
- You are recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, especially before going to bed at night.
- Place the head of your brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums, and gently brush your teeth in a small circular motion.
Dental flossing
- Daily flossing is the best way to remove plaque from the interdental areas (area between your adjacent teeth).
- This prevents damage to the teeth, gums, and the alveolar bone.
- Take 30 to 40 cm of floss and wrap it around your middle fingers.
- Use your thumb and forefingers to guide the floss to insert it into the interdental area using a sawing motion.
- To clean the gum line, curve the floss into a “C” shape and gently move up and down.
Takeaway
Taking care of your teeth and gums is crucial since it helps prevent oral problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and premature tooth loss. A healthy mouth paves the way to a healthy body, mind, and soul.
