The Most Important Oral Hygiene Aids

Proper oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Good oral health eventually improves your overall health and quality of life. Oral hygiene aids are tools that help keep your teeth and gums healthy to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

dentist in Tukwila, WA offer comprehensive methods to follow good oral hygiene to keep dental issues at bay. 

What is oral hygiene?

Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free. It involves brushing and flossing your teeth and regular visits to your dentist for oral examination. 

Oral hygiene is a form of preventive care. You can detect oral problems early and stop the progression or further deterioration such as cavities, gum disease, bad breath, misaligned teeth, and other issues. 

What are the most popular oral hygiene aids?

Oral hygiene aids are equipment that helps keep your oral cavity clean and prevent any dental complications. 

Some of the most common and popular oral hygiene aids are discussed below.

Toothbrush

• These are the most common oral hygiene aids used to remove plaque from the tooth surface. 
• There are two types:
  • Manual
    • These are used manually and require replacement every 3 months.
    • These brushes consist of different bristles of which soft bristles are most preferred since they are gentle on the gums. 
  • Electric
    • These brushes are becoming popular since they are more effective.
    • The rotary or vibrating motion helps to dislodge the plaque easily.

Dental floss

• These are aids that help remove plaque from areas between the teeth (interdentally) and below the gum line (subgingivally).
• The floss is made up of thin nylon filaments or polyethylene ribbons.

Interdental brushes

• These are used in combination with dental floss to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth.
• They are specially designed according to the shape of the interdental areas. 

Mouth rinses

• There are two basic types of mouth rinses:
  • Therapeutic
    • These are regulated by the FDA (Food and Development Authority) and require a prescription. 
    • Therapeutic mouth rinses contain active ingredients to fight bad breath and decay. 
  • Cosmetic
    • These do not require a prescription.
    • They help to temporarily suppress bad breath. 

Oral irrigators

• These oral aids are used to clean plaque subgingivally.
• Water is sprayed through tiny jets into the gum pockets. 
• These have proven to lower your risk of gum diseases. 

Rubber tip stimulators

• These remove plaque subgingivally and also stimulate blood flow to the gums. 

Tongue cleaners

• These are special tools that remove plaque and debris from the tongue surface.
• These help to prevent the colonization of fungi and bacteria. 
• These are made up of metal, wood, or plastic.

Takeaway

Regular visits to your dentist and cleaning of your mouth with oral hygiene aids are essential to fight cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. 

This helps to improve your overall health and quality of life.