Oral Hygiene

There is nothing more pleasant to the eye than white, sparkling, well-cared for teeth, and there is nothing more painful than bleeding gums and a raging toothache. Basic dental hygiene can go a long way to preventing the pain and discomfort associated with cavities and inflamed gums. Dental hygiene should start very early on in a child’s life, as good habits formed that young go a long way to ensuring that your teeth and gums remain healthy all your life.

Here are some pointers to basic oral hygiene:

Regular Visits

It is imperative that you start your children on the right path by insisting on regular visits to your local dentist in downtown Vancouver and oral hygienist. This will ensure that problems are picked up as soon as possible and dealt with by a qualified professional. In years gone by, a visit to the dentist was enough to inspire abject fear in the bravest individual, never mind what this fear would do to a child. Nowadays dentists have been trained to cause as little pain as possible and this is further enhanced by the modern tools and pain deadening techniques at a modern dentist’s disposal.

Regular Brushing and Flossing

There is no better way to prevent tooth and gum decay than by regular brushing and flossing, A suitable toothbrush, they vary from soft to hard, is essential, and brushing must be done twice a day at the very least. Unfortunately, brushing only will not be able to get rid of certain foodstuffs caught in really hard to reach, out of the way places. That is why flossing is so important. Flossing cleans right down to the gum in really inaccessible places and cleans food and plaque out of what the dentist calls food traps. The benefits from regular flossing are incalculable.

Build Up Strong Teeth

In addition to the above, it is recommended that you make sure you are supplementing your diet with the chemicals necessary for good dental health. Three out of four people in industrialised countries have access to fluoride in their drinking water. Fluoride has been found to harden the enamel, which is the extremely hard outer layer of your teeth. If fluoride is not added to your drinking water, you will find it in most toothpastes. Vitamin D has also been found to help in maintaining adequate dental health by fighting bacteria, so make sure that you get the necessary amounts of Vitamin D in your diet.

Natural Alternatives

You can also use certain natural substances to augment your dental care. Green tea has been shown to help in preventing the erosion of your teeth. People who drink green tea regularly are less susceptible to gum disease. Natural oils such as menthol and tea tree oil have also been shown to help fight bacteria in your mouth. Discuss natural alternatives with your dentist before putting them to use, since some of them are ineffective, while others may even be harmful.

A severe toothache is a frightening experience. Correct dental care is essential in avoiding this unpleasant occurrence. All of the tips listed above go a long way to prevent tooth decay, but the most important ones are good oral hygiene, and a regular visit to your dentist, where problems can be timeously diagnosed and appropriate treatment suggested.