Good oral hygiene goes well beyond fresh-smelling breath and a sparkling smile. Oral hygiene can save money, prevent surgery and protect the body’s overall health. There is a lot that goes into oral hygiene, but all of it can be summed up by keeping a mouth clean.

Brushing

Everyone knows that they should brush their teeth, but very few people do it often enough to ward off plaque and tartar. People have different genes, and this can affect saliva in the mouth. Some people need to brush every four hours while others can get away with brushing their teeth twice a day. Brush as soon as plaque can be felt on the teeth; however, avoid brushing within 30 minutes of a meal to avoid tooth enamel erosion. In addition to brushing the teeth, the tongue needs to be brushed. The tongue is home to numerous bacteria. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned to avoid plaque.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash is helpful in dislodging food and plaque from in between teeth and where teeth protrude from the gums. Mouthwash is also helpful in killing bacteria in the mouth so that plaque doesn’t result.

Flossing

While people make sure to brush their teeth, there are many people who don’t floss regularly. This can affect teeth and gums dramatically. One way a lack of flossing impacts people is that it causes gingivitis and periodontitis.

Chewing Gum

The more saliva flows in the mouth, the better food particles will break down. This makes chewing gum after meals a good idea. Chewing gum encourages saliva production, and it helps to dislodge food particles from in between the teeth.

Staying Hydrated

Saliva becomes thick when the body isn’t adequately hydrated, which encourages plaque, tartar, cavities and other oral issues. It’s a good idea to drink half of the body’s weight in ounces of water. Be mindful that the body cannot absorb more than a pint of water in an hour so space out water intake throughout the day.

Check-Ups

Some people are afraid of the dentist; however, much of this fear is based upon old concepts. Dentists have new techniques for diminishing pain. Procedures are quicker as well. Visiting a dentist is important because they have the tools and expertise to identify possible issues, and they can help to prevent many dental issues. For instance, dentists are able to adequately remove tartar from the teeth that can eventually end up as cavities. People are not able to remove their tartar at home.

It takes daily habits of brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, brushing the tongue and other measures of oral hygiene to effectively keep the mouth clean. Visit a dentist for regular check-ups to ensure nothing goes unnoticed.