12 Oral Hygiene Tips That We Ignore

Thursday, April 25, 2013, 18:25 [IST]

Oral hygiene is the most underrated aspect of our health care. We are worried about minor headaches or putting on few extra pounds but no one values their teeth as long as they last. It is only when you develop a hoard of oral problems, you realise the importance of maintaining oral hygiene.

You may not even suffer from any kind of dental problems if you follow some basic oral hygiene tips. But we are so busy with our day to day life, that we absolutely forget about these important steps. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine; the same follows with your oral health. So, following oral hygiene tips today, will surely give you benefits in the long run.

You may think that you are maintaining your oral hygiene adequately but that may not be the case. You may brush your teeth twice everyday but what is important to know is, are you brushing the right way? Are you using the right kind of brush? Are you using a tongue cleaner regularly? These are some basic tenets of oral hygiene that we usually forget.

So, here are some important dental hygiene tips we often ignore but should be followed in order to maintain oral hygiene.

Brush Twice

We all know that we are supposed to brush our teeth twice daily. But we very often feel tired or sleepy at night and skip brushing. The leftover food particles in your mouth gets rotten during night and damages your teeth.

Use Mouth Wash

It is not enough to just brush your teeth. You need mouth wash so that your gums and entire oral cavity can be cleaned of germs.

Tongue Cleaner

A tongue cleaner is one of the most important oral hygiene equipments that most people don't have. It clears the plaque and sediments from your tongue.

Dental Floss

Dental floss is very important because it reaches out to those corner soft of your teeth where the brush cannot reach.

Gargle Each Time You Eat

Gargle with a little bit of water every time you eat something. This simple step ensures that no food it left in your mouth.

Right Type Of Brush

Most of us do not use the right type of brush. It is always advisable to use a soft bristled brush so that it doesn't scrub your gums. You must also know when a brush has worn out and needs to be changed.

Brushing Technique

People often brush randomly; they do not follow a set pattern. Remember the nursery rhyme we all learned, 'brush up, brush down; brush round and round'.

Don't Smoke

Smoking is one of the worst habits for your dental health. Tobacco makes your teeth yellow and is also responsible for cavities and worms.

Mustard Oil With Salt

If you want your teeth to become white instantly then brush your teeth with a mixture of mustard oil and salt.

Baking Soda

Some kitchen ingredients are very useful for maintaining oral hygiene. For example, lemon and baking soda makes an excellent pair for cleaning and whitening your teeth.

Neem Datun

No toothbrush can beat the natural medicinal properties of a need datun. In ancient times, stems of neem trees were used to brush teeth due to their anti-bacterial properties.