A beautiful, healthy smile begins with adequate dental care. When practiced properly, the maintenance of dental hygiene can help in the prevention of various dental conditions. Although it is certainly important to see your dentist on a regular basis, good oral hygiene also involves a regular at-home regimen.
The most fundamental element of good oral hygiene begins with the brushing of your teeth. However, even regular brushing will not remove all of the plaque or tartar that can build up on the surfaces of your teeth. For this reason, it is important that you practice proper flossing at least once a day to help remove any food particles that may become lodged between your teeth. The removal of plaque is crucial in reducing your risk for tooth decay, toothaches, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Rinsing with the proper mouthwash is also an important aspect for good dental hygiene. Mouthwash acts as a pre-rinse that serves to loosen food particles and make it easier to thoroughly clean your teeth. Mouthwash can destroy bacteria that brushing and flossing may not be able to. While this is not a replacement for brushing and flossing, some studies have found that rinsing your mouth twice daily can help reduce plaque buildup by more than 50%.
It is also important to refrain from eating foods that contain high sugar content. Periodontal diseases and tooth decay often stem from consuming too many sweets or foods that contain starch. Along with compromising the health of your teeth, this can also result in various other health issues, such as diabetes.
Over time, without proper hygiene plaque buildup will affect the gums, which can cause gum disease. Thus it is imperative to have professional teeth cleaning twice a year. At Bedford Dental Group, Dr. Naysan and his staff provide full-service dental care with the most up to date technology to better serve you. To schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced Beverly Hills dentist, please contact us at 310.278.0600.