Overview

Smile is your first impression! Having pearly white teeth can have a significant impact on how people react and respond to you. However, good oral hygiene is necessary to prevent gum diseases and cavities.

One of our most experienced and well-renowned Dentists - Dr. Abbas Ismail Khan, will provide some useful tips on how to take care of your teeth and mouth to keep them strong and healthy as you age. He says if your teeth are not cleaned properly, over some time a sticky film of bacteria accumulates on your teeth called plaque which can cause tooth decay and irritate gum tissue. If this plaque is not removed regularly by tooth brushing and flossing, it hardens to create calculus. Calculus can only be removed by a professional dentist. Hence, brushing your teeth regularly is important to keep plaque and calculus under control.

Here are some oral hygiene rudiments to be followed regularly. Brush regularly with the right technique
Dr. Abbas recommends brushing twice a day in small and gentle circular motions, keeping your bristles at 45 degrees into the gum. The bristles of the toothbrush should be soft to medium with a pea-sized toothpaste applied on the brush. This way you will be able to brush the area between the teeth and the gums properly. Moreover, he says to gently brush your upper palate or roof of your mouth, gums, and tongue to prevent plaque, gum diseases, stomach issues, and bad breath.

Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash

Oral rinsing is a helpful addition to the daily oral routine. According to Dr. Abbas, using mouthwash helps reach areas that are not easily accessed by a toothbrush. It kills bacteria as well. He recommends using mouthwash every alternate day or 15 days a month. He also advises diluting the oral rinse with water, if it seems too strong and causes irritation in the mouth.

Floss every day

Flossing is recommended daily. It is advisable to avoid using a toothpick to remove debris and food in between your teeth. Frequent use of toothpicks can cause gum recession and exposes the root part of your tooth. It also leads to gum diseases and other dental problems. Unlike dental flossing, toothpick causes unnatural teeth spacing that cannot be easily corrected.

Drink boiled water

” Usually, people who visit me complain about white spots on their teeth called dental fluorosis,” says Dr. Abbas. It is most common in children between the ages of 1 to 8 years, while their permanent teeth are being formed. The main cause of fluorosis might be the consumption of hard or fluoridated water. Therefore, Dr. Abbas suggests using boiled water for drinking purposes.

Scaling and polishing

If you are unable to maintain good oral health for an extended period, you should visit your dentist for scaling and polishing which helps to remove plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces. As per Dr. Abbas, “this dental procedure should be repeated twice a year, once every six months“.

Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser teeth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure to improve the appearance of your smile and reduce tooth discoloration, especially for people who smoke, drink tea, or coffee excessively. This treatment is also recommended every two to three years which significantly helps to improve the brightness of your teeth — up to 10 shades brighter for a gleaming smile.

Conclusion

Maintaining good oral health depends on your everyday brushing routine. If you follow the basics of dental care such as brushing and flossing daily, eating a healthy diet, quit smoking and have a regular dental checkup with your dentist, you will be able to prevent cavities, gum decay, and other dental issues.

Keep your smile shiny and bright!