Things to Know for Oral Health

Dental and oral health is an important part of your general health. If you do not pay attention to oral hygiene, you may encounter problems such as bad breath and tooth decay. In addition, research has shown that dental diseases increase the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart problems. So what should we do for healthy teeth?

Things to Know for Oral Health

In order to have healthy teeth, it is useful to learn the answer to the question ‘How should dental care be done?’ and consider some tips.

• Dental plaque prevents the gums from breathing and can cause inflammation of the gums or tooth decay. For this reason, in addition to routine dental care, you can be examined by a dentist every 6 months.
• If you have tooth sensitivity, you should take care that the products you use are special for sensitive teeth.

Sugary foods and acidic drinks are very harmful for oral health. You should brush your teeth after consuming these foods. If you do not have the opportunity, you can use mouth care water.

How Should We Clean Our Teeth?

Oral care and cleaning consists of 3 stages. These are; brushing teeth, flossing and cleaning inside the mouth.

• Tooth Brushing: You should not forget the importance of brushing your teeth and brush your teeth 2 or 3 times a day for at least 2 minutes.
• Using Dental Floss: When you brush your teeth, you may not be able to reach between them sufficiently, even if you are cleaning their surfaces. Bacteria that settle between the teeth can lead to plaque formation and decay over time. For this reason, it is recommended to use dental floss once a day. When choosing the dental floss you will use, you can consider your tooth type and habits. After cutting the floss about 30 cm long, you can wrap it lightly around your middle finger and hold it between your thumb and index finger. When inserting the dental floss between your teeth, you should take care not to damage your gums and slowly move it back and forth between your teeth.
• Making Intraoral Cleaning: After brushing your teeth, you can prevent the formation of bacteria by gargling with mouth cleaning solutions. Although there are many oral care water options, most of them contain almost the same active ingredients. However, it is beneficial to stay away from alcohol-containing products in order not to damage your teeth in the long term. After taking the mouthwash in your mouth, you can spit it out by swirling it around your mouth for 40-50 seconds. You should not rinse your mouth with water afterwards.

Is Gargle with Salt Water Useful for Oral and Dental Health?

The acidic environment in the mouth due to the foods consumed can cause bacteria to multiply rapidly. In order to prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria and inflammation, it is necessary to create a neutral environment by increasing the PH value of the mouth. At this point, using salt water can be effective.
Some studies have shown that gargling with salt water can destroy bacteria in the mouth. In addition, when gargling with salt water regularly, this process can help prevent plaque formation.

How Many Times a Day Should Teeth Be Brushed?

The answer to the question ‘How many times a day should teeth be brushed?’ is important for oral and dental care. Because it is necessary to pay attention to oral hygiene for healthy teeth.

The Turkish Dental Association has determined the optimum tooth brushing frequency as 2 times a day. However, if you consume a large amount of sugary foods during the day, you can increase this amount to three.
When brushing your teeth, you can take care to use a soft toothbrush to avoid damaging the gums. The small size of your brush makes it easier to reach different parts of the mouth. You can also use a toothpaste containing fluoride and renew your toothbrush every 3 months.

When brushing your teeth, you should hold the brush at a 45-degree angle. You should brush up and down, without pressing too hard. You should not be content with brushing only the upper surfaces, you should definitely brush the back and side surfaces.