Building Better Habits: The Importance of Home Oral Care
Regular dental check-ups are vital for maintaining optimal oral hygiene and detecting potential dental issues. However, they alone are not a comprehensive solution. It’s essential to complement them with consistent oral home care practices performed daily to prevent future dental problems.
Patient education offered by the family dentist in Philadelphia, PA, and their team provides helpful insights about oral hygiene aids. Let’s explore some important oral hygiene aids to understand the importance of oral care.
What are some of the common oral hygiene aids used?
There are numerous types of oral hygiene aids, such as:
- Toothbrush
- According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you are advised to use a soft-bristled toothbrush in a circular motion.
- You need to brush twice daily, and your manual toothbrushes require replacement every 3 months.
- Currently, electric toothbrushes are gaining traction due to improved precision and dexterity.
- Dental floss
- This is a common interdental and subgingival cleaner.
- The floss is made up of nylon filaments or polyethylene ribbons.
- Floss should ideally be used twice a day.
- Interdental brushes
- These aids are used in conjunction with dental floss to clean the contours of your teeth in between the gums.
| Oral hygiene aids are special dental devices that help clean your oral cavity. These tools help remove food residue and plaque, a bacterial film that causes tooth decay, gum disease, and halitosis (bad breath). |
- Oral irrigators
- These are jet water sprays that are specially designed to clean the debris from below the gum line.
- Water is sprayed at a specific speed to eliminate food residue and bacteria.
- Rubber tip stimulators
- These are excellent tools for removing plaque from around the gum line, which also improves the blood flow to the gums.
- Tongue cleaner
- These are special devices that have been designed to remove the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and food debris from the tongue surface.
- These tools are made up of metal, wood, or plastic and can significantly eliminate bad breath.
- Mouth rinse
- There are two types of mouth rinses: cosmetic and therapeutic rinses.
- They help reduce bad breath, plaque, and cavities.
- These are generally used after brushing.
Final thought
Effective oral hygiene tools are essential for preserving oral health and warding off common dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and halitosis. By integrating suitable oral hygiene aids into your daily regimen and adhering to sound oral care practices, you can attain and uphold a radiant smile for the long term.
