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Tips to Maintain Oral Health Pick up correct tooth brushing techniques You need healthy teeth to chew, taste, and enhance self-image and appearance. To begin, building up a proper homecare oral hygiene habit is important. Tooth brushing is the foremost and most effective way of removing the debris on the teeth. Always pick the softest bristles of toothbrush and maintain a gentle stroke to clean your teeth. Harder bristles and strong coercive strokes of tooth brushing may cause trauma to gums that lead to gum recession and give long teeth appearance. Remember that brushing does not replace flossing Brushing alone is not enough to keep your teeth healthy. Flossing and brushing are equally important in maintaining clean healthy teeth. Tighten the floss with your hands and pass the floss under each tooth contact to dislodge the food debris in between the teeth contacts. Keep healthy diet Diet is crucial in affecting your chances of getting cavities. Research has shown that children who are more prone to getting cavities are those that have frequent snacking. Acidic drinks such as carbonated beverages can create acid in the mouth and corrode the teeth surfaces. Biting on hard-shelled foods can destroy the integrity of the tooth or even dislodge and crack the existing fillings. Avoid unhealthy oral habits Some oral habits such as finger biting and pencil biting may also destroy the integrity of the teeth and hence make teeth easier to get cavities. Other habits such as thumb sucking and mouth breathing can narrow the upper dental arch in children and hence create other dental problems. Watch for tooth cavities If you feel that you have sensitive teeth when you are having hot and/or cold food, you may have a cavity. Tooth cavity is caused by the acids produced by bacteria that are attached on the remaining food debris on the teeth. The acids can corrode teeth surfaces and depending on the degree of destruction, dental treatment may range from just getting a filling to involving a root canal. Watch for periodontal diseases While cavities may be the common reason for most people to visit dentists, it is the periodontal diseases that are the most common cause of people’s tooth loss. Symptoms such as continuous gum bleeding, tooth loosening, and bad breaths, are signs of you having periodontal diseases. Even you are an excellent brusher, you may still be susceptible to periodontal diseases due to genetic predilection and/or existing dental problems like teeth crowding. Check with your dentist or periodontist to find out more about how to prevent or treat periodontal problems. Maintain regular professional dental care Regular dental visits are essential to excellent oral health. Regular dental cleanings include scaling and/or root planing and they should be performed twice a year. These dental procedures can remove plaque and calculus (tartar) around the teeth and the periodontal pockets, areas that cannot be cleaned with brushing and flossing at home.