Most people are unaware of the importance of oral health. That’s why one of the first things that you will hear in Dr. Andrew Spath’s office is few tips about oral health. For example, in case you are suffering from gingivitis you should know that this is the first stage of a vicious cycle which can later become a alveolar bone disease, swaying and even pathological tooth movement. The final result is loss of teeth, because the connective fibers that hold the tooth in the dental cap are lost as a result of the products created by bacteria from dental plaque. In other words, the main cause of dental caries and periodontal disease is plaque, which must be removed from the teeth’s surface on a daily basis. So, how to do that in the most efficient way?

First and foremost, you must practice regular and proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits (at least twice a year even if you are not experiencing any problems). It is good to point out that many people are making mistakes during this process although they take care of their teeth every day. So, in order to make sure that you are doing this procedure right it is good to learn more about the basis of oral hygiene.

There are basically two main resources/tools to maintain oral hygiene, the basic ones, which include toothbrush, dental floss and interdental brushes and auxiliary which include toothpastes and mouth rinses.

The toothbrush is a basic and most important tool in the process of maintaining oral hygiene. Toothbrushes come in different sizes, shapes, colors and styles. These differences can create confusion in people and they don’t know which one they should choose. For example, dentists usually advice people to avoid buying toothbrushes with rubber additives. The ideal brush needs to contain a thick layer of fiber in order to perform its role which means that it must be able to mechanically clean the plaque from the tooth surface (the main cause of gingivitis, dental caries and periodontal disease). In addition, it is also important to choose the right hardness of the brush. There are very soft and hard brushes. Truth to be told, the most important thing is to practice a correct way of brushing the teeth. Many people choose medium hardness for their brushes and they are making the right choice. However, there are people who tend to brush their teeth harder which eventually lead to bleeding gums and gingivitis. In this case, it is better to choose soft toothbrush.

Many people don’t use dental floss at all, but they don’t know that this floss can be very useful especially when it comes to cleaning the area between the teeth where plaque accumulates and toothbrushes can’t reach this area. Dental floss should be used daily during brushing.

The so-called interdental brushes are used for thorough cleaning of the interdental spaces and they are especially useful for people who wear fixed orthodontic appliances.

Choosing the right toothpaste is easy because you need to focus on finding a paste which contains fluoride which is important in strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities. Most of the modern toothpastes contain fluoride. Mouth rinses are usually used by people who have sensitive gums although they can be useful for any person because they are also improving the breath.