Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Good Oral Hygiene?TipsWhen to See the DentistFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Good Oral Hygiene?
Tips
When to See the Dentist
Frequently Asked Questions
Ensuring healthy teeth through good oral hygiene yields overall health benefits. Dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease not only lead to tooth loss, but are associated with serious, chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and diabetes.
Along with propertoothbrushing twice a dayanddaily flossing, maintaining a healthy smile can also mean making dietary adjustments, limiting alcohol and tobacco use, and ensuring you’re keeping up with regular dental appointments.Here’s a quick overview of what you should keep in mind to protect your teeth.
Jessie Casson / Getty Images
Good oral hygiene, simply put, is a set of practices and habits that promote and protect your teeth and gums. But how can we tell our care is healthy? What defines good oral health? Current consensus is that good oral hygiene is the ability to speak, chew, and make facial expressions without pain, discomfort, or loss of confidence. It’s, therefore, an essential aspect of mental and physical health.
Fundamentally, the aim of a good oral hygiene routine is to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth. Related and equally important, it’s working to stop the progression of or deter gum disease andgingivitis(orperiodontitis, a severe form that arises in the absence of treatment).
How Poor Oral Hygiene Can Affect YouHow can poor oral hygiene impact your health? Here’s a quick breakdown:Cavities, gum disease, and other issues can lead to tooth loss, which can impact your bite and ability to chew and eat.Untreated gum disease is associated with chronic health conditions, including heart disease,stroke, anddiabetes.Poor dental health and appearance of the teeth can significantly impact mental health, raising self-consciousness and lowering self-esteem.Not getting timely dental care and cleanings reduces the chances of diagnosing and treatingoral cancer.
How Poor Oral Hygiene Can Affect You
How can poor oral hygiene impact your health? Here’s a quick breakdown:Cavities, gum disease, and other issues can lead to tooth loss, which can impact your bite and ability to chew and eat.Untreated gum disease is associated with chronic health conditions, including heart disease,stroke, anddiabetes.Poor dental health and appearance of the teeth can significantly impact mental health, raising self-consciousness and lowering self-esteem.Not getting timely dental care and cleanings reduces the chances of diagnosing and treatingoral cancer.
How can poor oral hygiene impact your health? Here’s a quick breakdown:
Your Mouth Has a Lot to Say About Your Overall Health
How to Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Ultimately, good oral hygiene is more of a journey than a destination. Not only does it require adopting and adhering to positive habits, it means being ready to learn ways to get even better at caring for your teeth and gums. Here are some key points to keep in mind.
Realistically, How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush?
Brush Thoroughly Twice a Day
It’s common knowledge that regular and thorough toothbrushingtwice a dayis a cornerstone of dental hygiene. Every morning and every night, spend about two minutes brushing your teeth, with 30 seconds for each side (lower front, lower back, upper front, and upper back).
Keep in mind that you should replace toothbrushes regularly (every three to four months or if the head is worn out and loose).
The 8 Best Toothbrushes
Use Dental Products That Contain Fluoride
Don’t Neglect Flossing
Along with brushing, flossing between the teeth daily is critical to protecting dental health. In addition to standard floss, other means can make this even easier, including using pre-threaded flossers or water flossing devices.
By removing food trapped between the teeth and along the gumline, flossing gets at food particles that brushing isn’t able to access.
Is Water Flossing Better Than String Flossing?
Practice Brushing Techniques
Regular brushing is important, but it’s also crucial to employ the correct technique. According to the ADA, here’s what you should keep in mind:
Eat a Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet
What you eatand drink can also impact your dental health. Generally, it’s a good idea to stick to a healthy, well-balanced diet. This means emphasizing the following:
In addition, some foods and drinks need to be avoided, including:
Avoiding Dry MouthAn unintended side effect of some medications is dry mouth, which can impact dental health. Talk to your dentist about your options if you know or suspect the drugs you’re taking are leading to this condition.
Avoiding Dry Mouth
An unintended side effect of some medications is dry mouth, which can impact dental health. Talk to your dentist about your options if you know or suspect the drugs you’re taking are leading to this condition.
Limit Alcohol and Tobacco Products
Among the many negative health effects ofdrinking alcoholare significant impacts on dental health. Alcohol is a noted risk factor for oral cancer, and consumption has been associated with developing periodontitis.
In addition, smoking or usingsmokeless tobaccois closely associated with gum disease. These habits weaken the immune system, making it easier for gingivitis and periodontitis to develop.
Use Mouthwash
Brushing and flossing are the best practices for preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Some people also choose touse mouthwash. Not all products are the same, and some—cosmetic mouthwashes—don’t really go after the bacteria that cause gingivitis and bad breath.
Generally, you’re best served using therapeutic mouthwashes. Look for the following active ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription mouthwash:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular dental visits preventplaque and tartarbuildup and ensure that there are no signs of other dental issues or cancer. As with many aspects of health, the sooner problems are caught—and the more proactive treatment is—the better off the outcomes.
How often you should visit the dentist depends on your specific case, but if you have no problems, schedule at least one appointment a year for cleaning and evaluation.However, if you have gum disease, cavities, or other oral health issues, you may require additional work.
RecapThe best strategies for protecting your dental health include brushing properly twice a day, daily flossing, limiting or stopping alcohol and/or tobacco use, avoiding sugary foods and sodas, and getting regular dental care.
Recap
The best strategies for protecting your dental health include brushing properly twice a day, daily flossing, limiting or stopping alcohol and/or tobacco use, avoiding sugary foods and sodas, and getting regular dental care.
What Happens If You Swallow Mouthwash?
Another important aspect of good oral health is knowing when it’s time to see a dentist. As noted above, the sooner you get help, the better off you’ll be. Signs it’s time to make an appointment or seek emergency care include:
Some conditions and treatments can contribute to dental problems. Make an appoint with your dentist if you are experiencing or undergoing any of the following:
Summary
Ensuring good oral health is important not only to help with self-esteem, but for overall wellness and health. Dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease can cause chewing problems and discomfort. Good dental hygiene practices include brushing properly twice a day, flossing once a day, steering clear of tobacco, alcohol, and sugar foods and drinks, and getting regular care from your dentist.
A Word From Verywell
It can be easy to overlook dental care. All too often, the health of your teeth takes a back seat to other issues. But it’s never a good idea to put off oral care. Beyond ensuring a healthy, bright smile, keeping up with good oral health yields numerous benefits and should be considered part of an overall health and wellness plan.
Critical in all of this is that you are mindful of how your teeth and mouth are feeling. If something seems awry, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist. The sooner you get the care you need, the better off you’ll be.
Frequently Asked QuestionsKeys to maintaining oral hygiene include:Brushing properly twice a dayFlossing between teeth once a dayEnsuring you are drinking enough waterAvoiding sugary foods and/or sodasLimiting alcohol intakeQuitting smoking and using smokeless tobaccoSeeing your dentist regularly (at minimum once a year for a cleaning and checkup)Learn MoreFacts You Should Know About Your Oral HealthDiscoloration and staining of the teeth can be difficult to take on, and sometimes brushing alone won’t be able to correct the issue. Currentwhitening and brighteningapproaches include:In-office treatments:Dental hygienists or dentists employ a range of substances and tools to help improve the appearance of your teeth. Abrasives, colorants, peroxides, and other agents may be used to restore white color to the enamel.At-home remedies:Though care needs to be taken, whitening strips, gargling with hydrogen peroxide, andoil pullingare all methods that may be attempted at home. These may be effective—especially along with a good oral hygiene routine—but in-office work tends to yield better results.Prevention: Limiting sugary foods and tobacco use and keeping up with regular schedules of cleaning, brushing, and flossing are all effective ways to prevent teeth from yellowing in the first place.Learn MoreDifferent Methods of Teeth WhiteningThere are several ways that poor oral hygiene can impact you:Tooth decay and cavities can cause pain, discomfort, and lead to tooth loss.Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.Tooth loss can affect your ability to bite and chew, which can impact diet.Dental issues can have a severe impact on your self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.Missing dental appointments increases your chances of missing signs of oral cancer.Learn MoreGum Disease and Your Overall Health
Keys to maintaining oral hygiene include:Brushing properly twice a dayFlossing between teeth once a dayEnsuring you are drinking enough waterAvoiding sugary foods and/or sodasLimiting alcohol intakeQuitting smoking and using smokeless tobaccoSeeing your dentist regularly (at minimum once a year for a cleaning and checkup)Learn MoreFacts You Should Know About Your Oral Health
Keys to maintaining oral hygiene include:Brushing properly twice a dayFlossing between teeth once a dayEnsuring you are drinking enough waterAvoiding sugary foods and/or sodasLimiting alcohol intakeQuitting smoking and using smokeless tobaccoSeeing your dentist regularly (at minimum once a year for a cleaning and checkup)
Keys to maintaining oral hygiene include:
Learn MoreFacts You Should Know About Your Oral Health
Discoloration and staining of the teeth can be difficult to take on, and sometimes brushing alone won’t be able to correct the issue. Currentwhitening and brighteningapproaches include:In-office treatments:Dental hygienists or dentists employ a range of substances and tools to help improve the appearance of your teeth. Abrasives, colorants, peroxides, and other agents may be used to restore white color to the enamel.At-home remedies:Though care needs to be taken, whitening strips, gargling with hydrogen peroxide, andoil pullingare all methods that may be attempted at home. These may be effective—especially along with a good oral hygiene routine—but in-office work tends to yield better results.Prevention: Limiting sugary foods and tobacco use and keeping up with regular schedules of cleaning, brushing, and flossing are all effective ways to prevent teeth from yellowing in the first place.Learn MoreDifferent Methods of Teeth Whitening
Discoloration and staining of the teeth can be difficult to take on, and sometimes brushing alone won’t be able to correct the issue. Currentwhitening and brighteningapproaches include:In-office treatments:Dental hygienists or dentists employ a range of substances and tools to help improve the appearance of your teeth. Abrasives, colorants, peroxides, and other agents may be used to restore white color to the enamel.At-home remedies:Though care needs to be taken, whitening strips, gargling with hydrogen peroxide, andoil pullingare all methods that may be attempted at home. These may be effective—especially along with a good oral hygiene routine—but in-office work tends to yield better results.Prevention: Limiting sugary foods and tobacco use and keeping up with regular schedules of cleaning, brushing, and flossing are all effective ways to prevent teeth from yellowing in the first place.
Discoloration and staining of the teeth can be difficult to take on, and sometimes brushing alone won’t be able to correct the issue. Currentwhitening and brighteningapproaches include:
Learn MoreDifferent Methods of Teeth Whitening
There are several ways that poor oral hygiene can impact you:Tooth decay and cavities can cause pain, discomfort, and lead to tooth loss.Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.Tooth loss can affect your ability to bite and chew, which can impact diet.Dental issues can have a severe impact on your self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.Missing dental appointments increases your chances of missing signs of oral cancer.Learn MoreGum Disease and Your Overall Health
There are several ways that poor oral hygiene can impact you:Tooth decay and cavities can cause pain, discomfort, and lead to tooth loss.Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.Tooth loss can affect your ability to bite and chew, which can impact diet.Dental issues can have a severe impact on your self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.Missing dental appointments increases your chances of missing signs of oral cancer.
There are several ways that poor oral hygiene can impact you:
Learn MoreGum Disease and Your Overall Health
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About oral health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health.
American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.
University of Rochester Medical Center.The best and worst foods for your teeth.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Smoking, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Department of Scientific Information, ADA Science Institute.Mouthrinse (mouthwash).
National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging.Taking care of your teeth and mouth.
American Dental Association.12 signs you need to see a dentist.
Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J.A critical review of modern concepts for teeth whitening.Dent J (Basel). 2019;7(3):79. Published 2019 Aug 1. doi:10.3390/dj7030079
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