Nowadays oral health is also important to live a happy life. Good oral hygiene is needed to keep gums and teeth healthy. For doing this you need to follow few tips like brushing twice a day and having regular dental checkups. Without proper oral hygiene, you can face gum diseases and tooth decay. Tooth decay or gum problem can even lead to tooth loss or problems with self-confidence.

Following are some tips which you should try to follow to keep gums and teeth healthy:

Brushing twice a day but not aggressively: most people are aware that to keep teeth and gums healthy brushing twice a day in the morning and at night is very important. Brushing them properly removes bacteria, plaque, and food items that are stuck between the teeth.

However, brushing daily is important if it is done with proper technique. Try to brush in a small circular motion, taking care to brush the front, back, and top of every tooth. This process will take almost 2 to 3minutes. People should try to avoid back-and-forth motions.

Brushing using hard bristles toothbrushes and even brushing aggressively can damage your tooth enamel and gums. This can lead to gum erosion, tooth sensitivity, and permanent damage to the enamel of teeth. People should change their brush every 3months or even when brush ends start to frayed, whichever comes first.

Floss once a day: the main aim of doing flossing is small pieces of food particles get stuck between the teeth where sometimes teeth do not reach. Flossing can remove such food particles, bacteria, plaque between the teeth and prevent bad breath which is caused by them.

The dental professional recommends gently push the floss all the down in between the gum line before hugging the side of the tooth in an up and down motion.

Use fluoride: fluoride is a common ingredient that is found in toothpaste and mouthwash to prevent tooth cavities. However, it is found that some of the dental products do not contain fluoride. Lack of fluoride can lead to teeth decay, even if the person is taking care of their teeth on daily basis.

It is found from a study that even brushing and flossing regularly cannot avoid cavities in teeth due to lack of fluoride.

Visit the dentist regularly: dental professionals recommend that people should visit the dentist every 6month for a regular check-up. During your regular checkup, he will clean teeth, remove cavities and hardened tartar.

The dentist will check visual signs of mouth cancer, gum disease, cavities, or any other oral issue. It is recommended that children and adolescents should visit the dentist every 6months while adults who practice proper oral hygiene can go to the dentist less frequently.

Eat the right food: brushing and flossing help to maintain your teeth healthy for a long time but many foods can damage your teeth. Consuming a lot of sugar in your diet can lead to teeth cavities. Common culprits for teeth decay in kids are chocolates, candy, and desserts but many of the processed foods contain sugar.  Try to eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits as well as dairy products without adding sugar to them.

It’s a very important decision to take while selecting dentist as you need to be sure you find the right dentist. However, to make selection it is not simple as it sounds. It could take a good amount of time and effort. Here are some tips to find a perfect dentist.  

Get referrals:

You can start by listing down potential dentists. To do this, you can ask your friends, family and other healthcare providers you know for recommendations. Take time and research on internet, social media about the reviews patients have mentioned about dentist in your list. After the list narrow down, you call each dentist to book an appointment to make face-to-face interaction.      

Aim for convenience:

This does not mean that you should select a dentist based on proximity to your home. You should also hours so that it should be easy to schedule appointment without affecting your job. You might consider that dentist who provides late hours on working days or even a few odd hours on weekend.       

Be sure if dentist can handle emergency visit:

The dentist whom you are selecting can handle any emergency dental situation reason being there are some who refer emergency situations elsewhere. You should ask them how they will manage dental emergency that occur after office hours and how to reach the dentist in that case.       

Go through dentist credentials:

To verify dentist education and credentials, the most important factor can be board certification. It tells you about the training, skills and experience dentist has pursued dentistry. Also, to confirm that dentist has no history of malpractice or disciplinary actions.       

Ask about telehealth capabilities:

Dentists can diagnose and can even treat some patients using technology like two-way video calls, email it’s called telehealth. Telehealth can never replace hand on in person office visit but for some patients it can lower down their trips to dentist’s clinic. Some dental conditions can also be managed by sending symptoms and vital signs collected at home and can have a virtual visit to the clinic. Telehealth can be used for minor complaints and routine follow-ups making it a convenient option.       

Communication style:

Try to choose a dentist with whom you are comfortable talking and who answer your information you need. When you first make an appearance with the dentist, ask a question and notice how he or she reacts to your question. Does he or she welcome your question and provide answer which you can understand. Find a dentist who shows an interest in your question and understands your treatment preference.       

Know about insurance benefits:

If you want to take benefits of your insurance, then you want to find a dentist who is part of your provider’s network. This will save your lot of expense and make dental care convenient, especially if the office submits the insurance claims for you.       

Check if the office is clean and organized:

Check for the safety of staff is wearing gloves, how rooms are like, and technology they use during treatment. Try to go through the entire clinic for a look before making an appointment with the dentist.