Oral hygiene was being practised as early about 3500 BC using a Babylonian chew stick and roughly made stickers to pick food out from between the teeth. The first recorded toothbrush was made from a carved stick with bristles from pigs’ hairs in China, around 600 AD. Then sometime in 1400 AD this was later refined into a bone handle with pigs hairs as bristles. In the 1700s a British prisoner is credited with designing the manual toothbrush that we are familiar with today. So even centuries ago, we realised the importance of oral hygiene and the consequences of not taking necessary care. We at dental hygiene in Wimbledon take oral hygiene extremely seriously and with the incredible advances made in equipment development we are able to provide the latest and most effective service to our patients.
When should I start my regime
Like body exercise taking care of our entire mouth must become a daily routine that we carry through throughout our entire lives. This effort will result in prevention of cavities, freshening of breath, retaining the whiteness of teeth and defending against gum disease. Oral hygiene is a team effort by the patient, the dentist, the hygienist, the orthodontist and the oral surgeon. If however the patient does not stick to the regime the whole team will have to work harder to try and keep the mouth healthy. It is therefore important to educate children so that they know and understand why they must develop a complete daily routine.
What must I include in my daily routine
It is not necessary to make things complicated and the simpler, the better. For a start, try to floss after every meal and at least twice further in between. Flossing does prevent tartar building up and while you may experience bleeding initially don’t be alarmed as your gums will become used to the routine. Brush your teeth at least after every meal and in the morning and the evening before retiring. The recommended way to hold your toothbrush is as if you were holding a pencil, try not to brush too quickly or aggressively and always brush in a circular motion. A lot of bacteria also forms on the tongue for this reason it is important to gently scrub the tongue because these bacteria are a major cause of bad breath. It is also very important not to keep your toothbrush for too long and patients should change either your toothbrush or brush heads regularly, after around two to three months is the suggested period. As an added precaution it is a good idea to also use a good mouthwash to rinse around the house for a minimum of thirty seconds. This will aid flossing and brushing by reaching those areas of the mouth that are difficult to get to by flossing and brushing. This entire routine takes a few minutes each time and combined with a twice yearly dental visit for parents and their children can reduce early and permanent tooth loss and the complications that could arise from poor oral hygiene.
Protecting your mouth will result in overall wellness
Our mouths are the portals through which we provide sustenance and liquid refreshment to our entire bodies. It therefore makes sense to ensure that our mouths are healthy so that all that passes through is fresh and healthy. We at dental hygiene in Wimbledon are part of your team in the struggle to maintain oral hygiene and defeat tooth and gum disease.