Is Flossing Really Necessary? 3 Best Dental Hygiene Tips From A Dentist

Most of us think brushing regularly is enough to fix any problems, but in reality, it isn’t. Many people try to ignore dental issues until the very end when the fix is not just expensive, but painful as well. A regular oral hygiene routine is helpful, but you need to ensure you have all your bases covered so your teeth are in optimal condition. Consider these three simple dental hygiene tips that will help you have a healthy and happy smile.

1. Brushing Technique Is Key To Healthy Gums

The way you brush is very important. Just a quick rub of the bristles against your teeth won’t do the trick – in fact, poor brushing is just as bad as not brushing. Throughout the day, our mouth is subjected to everything for eat and drink, and food has this uncanny ability to settle into nooks and crannies of our mouth to cause problems later. That’s why while brushing, you need to ensure you reach those crevices and brush to dislodge any stubborn particles. Run your toothbrush in slow up-and-down circular motions over the teeth to remove plaque. If you don’t, then this can lead to gingivitis or gum disease.

2. Flossing is important if you want to do a good job

Flossing is as important as brushing and sometimes even more so. This helps you reach between the teeth and remove any germs that are lodged in between. According to dentists, a piece of floss should be 18 inches in length to achieve results. This provides you with fresh floss and prevents you from reinserting germs that you have removed. Take care to rub the floss against the tooth in a ‘C’ motion while wrapping the tooth for maximum effect.

3. Don’t forget to clean your tongue

Along with our gums and teeth, our tongues need regular cleaning too. There are several professional tongue cleaners that are available in the market that will do the job perfectly. However, as mentioned before, it’s not just the tool you use but how you use it that makes the real difference. Run the cleaner gently over your tongue to scrape all the bacteria off. You can even do this with toothbrush bristles, but a scraper works better. The top side of the tongue is rough, and the bristles of most toothbrushes aren’t strong enough to properly clean it. If you ignore cleaning the tongue, then you may find yourself suffering from halitosis (bad breath).

Maintaining Dental Health

There are many other ways by which you can maintain dental hygiene, and these top three tips are a great start towards that goal. Although taking care of teeth will help to prevent toothaches and other dental diseases, have your teeth looked at by a dentist at least once every six months.

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Prevention is definitely better than a cure, and tooth problems are linked to early onset of diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. Shiny white teeth are no longer just a prop to make you look good, but are an indication of a healthy lifestyle.