Part of overall health is oral health, and it’s something that too many people overlook or neglect. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but without proper dental hygiene, teeth still decay. Over 90% of people between the ages of 20 and 64 have cavities. The best thing that people can do is to make sure that they practice good dental hygiene every single day. Everyone knows that brushing and flossing are important, but the trick is to do both of these things properly. Here are a few tips to make sure that you’re taking care of your teeth and gums the right way.
Brushing
Only 28% of women and 20% of men claim to brush their teeth after every meal. Even if a person only brushes his or her teeth once or twice a day, it must be done the right way and with the right equipment. The head of a toothbrush should be small enough to fit in all areas of the gum line and in hard to reach areas of the mouth.
When it comes to the actual process of brushing, all surfaces of the teeth should be brushed. A soft bristled toothbrush should be used at a 45 degree angle to the teeth and the brusher should use short back and forth strokes.
Flossing
Flossing is another important aspect of dental care that many people don’t do correctly or at all. Only half of Americans claim to floss on a daily basis, and a number of them are probably not doing it effectively. Flossing typically requires a fairly long piece of floss (unless flossers are used).
The ends should be wrapped around the middle fingers. Then, the pointer fingers should be used to move the floss between the lower teeth and the thumbs for the upper teeth. Floss should slide gently between each teeth and the outsides of the backs of the back molars.
Are you making any oral hygiene mistakes? Let us know in the comments. Get more on this here.
