Your smile and overall oral health are essential, and all depend on simple dental care habits, like brushing and flossing. While you may do this consistently, are you using the right techniques? Aside from dental habits, you apply at home; it’s important to visit the dentist regularly. If you struggle with good oral hygiene, an oral surgeon at Aria Dental in Mission Viejo CA is always available, but here are a few steps you can apply on your own to protect your oral health and keep your smile in the best conditions. 

Brushing Habits 

Good oral hygiene starts with clean teeth. It’s important to keep the area where your teeth and gums meet to avoid any damage to your gums and even from developing gum cancer. As well as keeping the surfaces of the teeth clean to prevent cavities. 

Here are some brushing basics: 

 Use the right equipment.

Fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush is the ideal type of equipment you should be using. Always make it comfortable for you. You may want to consider an electric toothbrush, which can reduce plaque buildup and mild forms of gum disease better than a regular manual toothbrush. Devices like this are also beneficial if you struggle with arthritis that makes brushing your teeth difficult. 

Brush your teeth twice a day.

Take about 2 minutes to brush your teeth and make sure not to rush. A thorough job will enhance the cleaning being done to your teeth. A lot of people think to brush after they eat, but it’s not the best idea, especially if you ate something acidic like soda. Also, make sure to clean your tongue because it holds onto some bacteria, and it can affect the odor of your mouth.  

Practice brushing with good techniques.

The right technique when brushing your teeth is to hold the toothbrush at an angle that aims the bristles towards the areas where your teeth meet the gums. If you brush too hard, the bristles can hurt your gums. 

Know the right time to replace your toothbrush.

About every three months, you should invest in a new toothbrush or replace the head if you have an electric toothbrush. If the bristles start to become flat before three months, you may want to invest sooner. 

Flossing Habits 

Bacteria can hold in tight spaces between your teeth and under your gums where your toothbrush can’t reach. So flossing daily is another extremely important habit that a dentist in Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo will tell you to maintain every day. 

Here are some flossing basics:

Take the cleaning process one tooth at a time.

When flossing, you want to slide the floss between your gum and tooth. Use the floss to slowly and gently rub the side of the tooth in an up and down motion. As you progress through the teeth, make sure to unwind fresh floss every tooth. 

Floss gently.

Guide the floss in between your teeth. You don’t want to just snap the floss into your gums. Follow the gum lines and curve your floss alongside it against one tooth at a time. 

Maintain it.

Flossing can be hard and time-consuming for some people. If you aren’t the biggest fan of having to floss, look into a cleaner like a dental pick, water flosser, or small brushes that can reach between the teeth. 

When to plan a visit to the dentist

Schedule regular dental cleanings to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems that could arise from bad oral hygiene. If you notice any signs or symptoms of oral health problems now, such as: 

• Swollen gums 
• Loose permanent teeth 
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss 
• Unusually sensitive teeth to different temperatures 
• Pain when chewing 

You should contact an oral surgeon in Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel like those in Aria Dental, who can help form a plan to treat any oral health problems you are suffering from. 

It’s important to maintain good oral hygiene. Not only can it affect your appearance, but it can have some lasting effects on your oral health and hygiene.