Oral hygiene is practise of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, especially the common dental caries, gingivitis (gum disease), and bad breath (halitosis).

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things a person can do for his or her teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable one to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly.

Good oral health is important for an overall well - being.

Signs of a healthy oral cavity :

• Teeth are clean and free of debris.
• Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss.
• Bad breath is not a constant problem.

Daily care includes proper brushing and flossing, they help stop problems before they develop and are much less painful, less expensive, and less worrisome than treating conditions that have been allowed to progress.

In addition to regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that a person should take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.

These Include:

• Brushing throughly twice a day and flossing daily.
• Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks between meals.
• Using dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.
• Rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash if your dentist tells you to.
• Making sure that children less than 12 years drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non - fluoridated area.

Proper Brushing Technique :

Tooth brushing itself might lead to dental problems if not done correctly. It should not be a vigorous and force - full technique. Too much pressure is never good, but also make sure that teeth, gums and tongue are brushed adequately.

• Use the tooth brush gently (but not too gently)
• Change your toothbrush at least every two to three months.
• The best way to brush is by placing your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against your gums and gently moving it in a circular motion, rather than a back - and -  forth motion.
• Brush the outside, inside and chewing surface of each tooth.
• Grip the toothbrush like a pencil so you won't scrub too hard.
• Gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and to freshen breath.
• Do not use excessive amounts of toothpaste; only a pea - sized amount of toothpaste is enough.

General Tips for Choosing a Toothbrush

Toothbrush used may be a soft bristled brush, it is most comfortable and safest and bristles should have a rounded tip.

Toothbrush head of half - inch wide and one - inch tall will be the easiest to use and the most effective.

Toothbrush should have a long enough handle to hold it comfortably.

Powered toothbrushes may be used, but gently.

Proper Flossing Technique :

Dental floss is either a bundle of thin nylon filaments or a plastic (Teflon or Polyethylene) ribbon used to remove food and dental plaque between teeth. The floss is gently inserted between the teeth and scraped along the teeth sides, especially close to the gums. It should be used gently; overly vigorous or incorrect flossing can result in gum tissue damage.

• Use about 18 inches or 45 cms of flose, leaving an inch or two to work with (wrap around middle finger of one hand)
• Then firmly grasp a 2.5 cm section between the thumb and index finger of each hand.
• Insert the floss between two teeth with ease and work gently up and down several times with a rubbing motion; following curves of teeth
• At the gum line, curve the floss first around one tooth and then the other with gentle sliding into the space between the tooth and gum.
• After each tooth contact is cleaned, unwrap a fresh section of floss from one hand and wrap the used section of floss around the third finger of the opposite hand.
• Proceed between all teeth and behind the last teeth.

Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. It involves rinsing mouth with 20 ML of mouthwash twice daily after brushing. The wash is typically swished or gargled for about half a minute and then spat out.

However, different brands have a few different ingredients, consultation a dentist is better.

An alternative method for mouthwash is salt water, a home treatment for mouth infections and/or injuries, or post extraction, and is made by dissloving a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.

For those who wear dentures (partial or complete), they should regularly clean the denture and keep dentures as well as oral cavity hygienic. Dentures can be cleaned by denture cleansers.

For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, tooth decay occurs readily if food retains in and around braces. Thus it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing throughly when wearing braces to prevent tooth decay, decalcification, or unpleasent colour changes to the teeth.

Warning :

• Do not use tobacco products. tobacco use can cause an array of health problems, even dental health problems.
• Smoking can cause staining of your teeth that can develop over time, and it can be hard to clean from your teeth in the future.
• Chewing tobacco can cause bad breath, tooth loss and oral cancer.