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Good oral health and hygiene are essential for overall body health, so we’ve created a guide containing all the oral health tips you’ll need. 

Poor oral health habits have been linked to various diseases, including cardiovascular and stomach illnesses. 

Everyone should have a check-up at least twice a year, but between those visits, there are many ways to ensure proper oral hygiene. 

You can rely on over-the-counter products and proper lifestyle habits that ensure your mouth’s microbiome is at its peak. Here are some tips and tricks to ensuring healthy teeth, gums and general oral well-being. 

Brush Before Bed

When you sleep, your mouth is shut for a long time. This is the perfect environment for nasty bacteria to breed. 

It also removes the extra sugars and plaque in the mouth that accumulate throughout the day. This is why dentists recommend that you brush twice a day. 

Brush Thoroughly

It isn’t enough to brush your teeth, you have to ensure you are using a proper technique. The point is to remove as much of the day or night’s plaque buildup as possible with each brush in the safest way possible. 

Brushing too hard can injure the gums ad cause a receding gumline. Take your time. Move the toothbrush generally, using small, circular motions to remove plaque, suggests Healthline. 

Unremoved plaque leads to calculus buildup and gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Using a toothbrush with medium bristles is very important. If the bristles are too hard, it can cause injury to the soft tissue in the mouth. If the bristles are too soft, they might not penetrate the layer of plaque.

Make sure to use enough toothpaste; and that the toothpaste contains fluoride. This is the best cleaning agent for the mouth. Toothpaste removes stains and germs, while fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel and protects the inner layers of the tooth. 

Stop Smoking And Drinking

We all know smoking is detrimental to your health. In terms of oral health, it can cause mouth and throat cancer. Alcohol is also carcinogenic, meaning it can lead to the growth of cancerous cells.

Quitting smoking and drinking reduces your risk of mouth cancer and developing gum disease.

Smokers and drinkers of alcohol are more likely to develop the following:

• Whitening of the mouth’s soft tissue, called smoker’s keratosis. 
• Tooth loss and decay. 
• Poor recovery after mouth and gum surgery.
• Decreased ability to taste.
• Halitosis, or bad breath.
• A metallic taste on the back of the tongue won’t go away.
• Advanced periodontal disease.
• A higher risk of developing acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. This excruciatingly painful gum condition causes a terrible smell and taste. It rots the mouth tissue.

Eat Healthily And Hydrate

The best way to ensure full body health is to eat a balanced diet and drink enough water. Water keeps your mouth moist. A moist, clean mouth is healthy. Dehydration leaves the mouth susceptible to loads of issues, especially tautness of the soft tissue. This can cause tears, which leads to infections and swelling. 

A balanced diet includes all of the five food groups in moderation. Eat loads of fruits and vegetables for their dense nutrient content. Avoid processed food, as they might fill you up but don’t offer any essential vitamins and minerals that your body and immune system need. 

Processed food is also filled with sugars that contribute to tooth decay, especially if you aren’t rinsing your mouth properly after meals.  

Use A Good Mouthwash

Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash designed to fight cavities and tartar buildup.

Swashing the mouthwash around your mouth can help get rid of food debris left behind after brushing. It also helps you get a cleaning agent into the areas of your mouth that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush.

Remember To Clean Your Tongue

Brushing your tongue is just as essential as brushing your teeth. The tongue is a carrier of bacteria and can cause bad breath. People who do not regularly brush their tongues will notice a thick white film on its surface. 

This is a buildup of plaque. It can affect how well you taste your food and can make your tongue feel sore.

Brush the entire surface of your tongue or use a tongue scraper every time you brush, but remember to be gentle. Slight pressure should do the job. You don’t want to injure your taste buds.

For more oral hygiene tips and information on how to keep a healthy mouth, visit Affinity Dental.