Importance of Regular Oral Health Care Practices for Adults

Your smile is an important feature because it is one of the first things that get noticed on a person’s face during communication. Regular oral health care ensures that a person’s smile remains beautiful, but its benefits go deeper than the face value. There are many, even more significant reasons why adults must practice regular oral health care.

What Constitutes Regular Oral Health Care?

Brushing the teeth

Adopting a consistent routine with brushing is a major aspect of good oral hygiene. Brushing twice daily, with a good toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and the proper brushing technique is what is required. Brushing should be gentle and not rough. It is not about how hard you scrub your teeth but how well you move the brush around gently, making sure to reach into every corner properly. Brushing should be done for at least two minutes, morning and night.

Flossing

Daily flossing to remove plaque from below the gum line and in between the teeth is important. Plaque can harden into tartar otherwise. After tartar is formed, using floss can no longer effectively remove it. A professional cleaning with a dental hygienist would then be required to clean the teeth and remove all traces of tartar. Roll a few inches (about 18 inches) of good quality mint floss around both of your pointer fingers and gently guide the floss around, using a sawing motion, and remove food particles left over after each meal.

Eating the right foods

The kinds of foods you eat can have an effect on the quality of your teeth. Choosing healthy foods and snacks can positively impact your oral health. Apples, carrots, and other fruits and vegetables are better options and should replace sugary, sticky snacks. You allow bacteria to create acids which attack the tooth enamel when you snack on the wrong foods, between meals. If you do indulge in such sweet and sticky snacks, rinse your mouth immediately after.

Regular dental check-up

Visits to the dentist should be done at least once every six months. Having regular check-ups also helps you identify cavities in the teeth and any other oral health problems which are present or could potentially occur. A regular professional cleaning will keep your mouth healthy by removing plaque and tartar. A good dentist will also offer advice on proper techniques for brushing and flossing that will go a long way in helping you maintain good oral health throughout your life.

Why Regular Oral Health Care is Important

Regular and adequate oral health care is an important part of maintaining the overall health of your teeth. Paying regular attention to your teeth and mouth is important for the following reasons:

• Remove teeth stains – stained teeth are unattractive. Teeth stains are caused by coffee, soft drinks or tobacco. They can also occur over time, building up with each passing day. Regular cleaning of the teeth will improve the teeth and help you achieve brighter, whiter teeth.
• Clean, fresh breath – a person could still suffer from dental related halitosis even while brushing and flossing regularly. A timely visit to the dentist for thorough dental cleaning is an excellent way to maintain healthy teeth and a clean smelling breath.
• Plaque and cavities are reduced – plaque, which is a white film formed on the enamels and at the gum lines need to be regularly removed. If not, it can begin to eat away at the tooth enamel, leading to eventual decay.
• Prevent tooth loss – getting regular oral health care to remove plaque build-up will prevent gum disease and the eventual loosening and falling out of the teeth.

If you never considered going to the dentist as an important part of regular oral care, your future health might very well depend on it. It is never too late to begin a habit of caring for your teeth so start today.