Heard on a New York pavement:

“I brush two times a day. And even then she says I stink. What else is hygiene, huh?”

Now, now, don’t you get all judgmental about this guy! What is oral hygiene for you? Picking up the toothbrush in the morning and before going to bed? Most of us define hygiene in our own convenient ways. Good oral hygiene will show if:

• You don’t have any dental problem

• Your teeth don’t have stains on them
• You don’t have plaque or tartar on your teeth
• You don’t suffer from teeth pain
• You don’t have bad breath

Yeah, if you don’t have any problem, you probably practice good hygiene. Here’s what maintaining good hygiene means.

• You brush after your meals.

• You floss immediately after you have brushed, at least once a day.
• You clean your tongue once a day.
• You change your toothbrush every three months.
• You rinse your mouth every time you eat or drink something.

And yeah, good oral hygiene also means cutting down on alcohol and the number of cigarettes you smoke

Make sure you visit your dentist every six months. Go for a professional cleaning of teeth if you haven’t got it done in the last six months. Make sure you inform your dentist of the slightest symptom of a dental problem you notice. Also, keep him/her informed of all the medications you take.

Oral hygiene is all about the effort you take to keep your smile charming forever. And all it takes is a few minutes everyday.

Happy smiling!

Tags: dental hygiene, good oral hygiene, oral hygiene