Preventative Oral Hygiene

 

Good preventative oral hygiene starts with how well one chooses to take care of his oral cavity. It is necessary if one wishes to stave off tooth decay and gum disease. It takes using the correct dental hygiene tools on a daily basis to keep the gums healthy and have less tooth decay. Poor oral care has been associated with lung problems, heart disease, low birth weights and more. The best possible way to be taught how to practice good oral care is with a dentist's instructions.

 

First off, one will be introduced to his own mouth. The dentist will show the various parts up close, explaining the relations of plaque and caries. The professional will have radio graphic images on the computer that he presents in relation to enamel, nerves, soft tissue and such. Next, tablets or drops of dye are used that will exhibit all the plaque on one's teeth. This will prove just how good the patient brushes his teeth, and he can improve the chances of having less cavities.

 

Having done that, the dentist will show how to brush with the most effective method. He will hand a mirror to the patient, and actually brush all parts of the teeth while one is watching. The parent of a child needs to be present and shown this particular routine also. Then the patient needs to show that he can carry out the same brushing by himself.

 

Finally, the dental practitioner will teach the patient how to correctly use dental floss. He does explain that brushing is so important, but is only half the job of keeping one's oral cavity healthy. Brushes cannot get between the teeth to clean where cavities and gum diseases lie. Floss comes in all kinds of trends, forms and flavors these days. The dentist will show one how best to floss his teeth, by using the index and middle fingers and a long piece of floss. It takes awhile to get a pattern of flossing going, but stay with it and it will go well.