Why Oral Hygiene Matters

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body. Good oral hygiene isn’t just about your smile, it’s about your total health. It begins with cavity prevention and reaches all the way to lowering the risk of heart disease and dementia. Maintaining your teeth and gums clean is one of the most crucial things you can do for your overall health.

What Is Oral Hygiene?

Oral Hygiene means maintaining a clean and healthy mouth. That includes:

• Brushing your teeth twice to three times a day, for 2 minutes at a time
• Flossing once or twice a day; while a waterpick is a fantastic tool to use it is still recommended that you use traditional floss or flossers at least once per day. We recommend using each once per day.
• Using quality toothpaste
• Use an alcohol free mouthwash or natural oral rinse twice per day
• Oil pulling once a day in the morning can be another fantastic part of your oral health routine. Oil pulling solution can be swished for 2-10 minutes at a time and then spit into a trash receptacle (do not spit in sink)
• Routine dental exams and cleanings

Poor oral Hygiene has linkages to:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Pneumonia
• Periodontal disease
• Tooth and gum loss
• Oral cancer
• Gum recession
• cavities
• Pregnancy complications like premature birth
• Diabetes and osteoporosis
• Dementia: Studies show a connection between gum disease, tooth loss, and increased risk of Alzheimer’s

Signs of Poor Oral Hygiene

If you notice any of the following, it may be time for a dental checkup:

• Bleeding or swollen gums
• Dark red gums
• Darkened, spotted, or Discolored teeth
• Toothache
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath
• Gum recession
• Spotted, misshapen, or Discolored tongue
• Mouth sore
• Jaw pain or discomfort

How to Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums

Oil Pulling

• Use a high quality oil pulling solution
• Swish between teeth and gargle for 2- 10 minutes
• Never swallow oil pulling solution or spit it in the sink as it can clog your drains.
• After swishing, spit solution into a wastebasket, and brush your teeth and tongue

Brushing

• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and quality toothpaste. Some dentists recommend fluoride based toothpaste, while others recommend toothpaste with neem and/or hydroxyapatite. Consult your doctor to find out what is best recommended for you.
• Brush your teeth twice – three times daily using small, circular motions. Aim your brush at a 45° angle toward the gum line.
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue! Lots of bacteria hides there.
• Make sure to change your toothbrush every 3–4 months and always change your toothbrush after illness.

Flossing

• Make flossing a habit to clean the plaque hiding between your teeth.
• Use traditional floss, floss holders, and water flossers.
• Rinse with water or mouthwash after flossing.

Tongue Scraping

• Your tongue holds bacteria; brush or scrape it daily.
• Use a copper or stainless steel tongue scraper and follow with rinsing your mouth with an alcohol free mouthwash or oral rinse

Rinsing

• Add an alcohol-free mouthwash or oral rinse to your daily routine to fight bacteria and lower plaque buildup.
• Oral rinses that contain natural essential oils, neem, hydroxyapatite, and/ or peppermint oil are recommended
• Please note: After dental procedures or extractions, warm salt water or plain warm water can be used in lieu of oral rinse. Please consult your dentist for post-operative instructions

Oral Hygiene Tips for Older Adults

As people age, they often face unique oral health concerns, including dry mouth caused by certain medications, tooth loss, the need for denture maintenance, and reduced dexterity.

Tips:

• Use an electric toothbrush if hand strength is limited.
• Consider using floss picks or water flossers if you struggle with traditional flossing.
• Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and acidic foods if you experience dry mouth.

Oral Health & Cognitive Decline

Research links untreated gum disease and tooth loss in older adults to a greater risk of dementia. Those who wear dentures, must maintain oral health also. Oral health matters long after your natural teeth are gone.

Crowns, Bridges & Dental Implants

If you’ve lost teeth, there are great options to restore your smile:

• Crowns strengthen damaged teeth
• Bridges fill gaps with fixed replacements
• Implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth
• Dentures can be partial or complete for multiple missing teeth

Your dentist can help you decide what’s right for you.

Don’t Ignore Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is more than just discomfiting; it increases your risk of:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Oral fungal infections

Tips for relief:

• Sip water regularly
• An adult should drink no less than 64 oz of water daily
• Use mouth tape to keep your mouth closed through the night
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy foods
• Chew sugarless gum
• Ask your dentist about artificial saliva or saliva stimulants

What Increases Oral Cancer Risk?

• Tobacco: smoking or chewing
• Alcohol use
• Sun exposure: Use lip balm with SPF
• Poor oral Hygiene

Even if you wear dentures, regular oral cancer screenings are essential, quick, painless, and life-saving.

Oral Hygiene = A Better You

Benefits of a healthy mouth:

• Fewer cavities and infections
• Fresher breath
• Lower risk of heart disease and stroke
• Better quality of life and confidence
• Less need for major dental work

When to See Your Dentist

• Every 6 months for cleanings, more often if you’re prone to gum issues
• Immediately, if you have bleeding gums, pain, or bad breath
• If it’s been more than 6 months, schedule now!