Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts for keeping your oral hygiene the best it can be:

Oral Hygiene Do’s

* Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleaning.
* Visit an orthodontist for an evaluation if you see any of the early warning signs of orthodontic problems.
* Have your child(ren) evaluated by an orthodontist by age seven. Many orthodontic problems can be more easily corrected before tooth and facial growth is complete.
* Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss between your teeth at least once a day, after dinner and before bedtime. (Tip: Use toothpaste on your floss for extra fresh breath.)
* Rinse and gargle with the mouthwash, ideally right before bedtime.
* Eat a balanced diet, limit between-meal snacks and eliminate sugary foods.
* Clean your tongue when your brush your teeth. (Tip: Instead of using toothpaste to brush your tongue, dip your toothbrush in mouthwash.)
* Drink plenty of liquids, especially water to keep your mouth moist. (Tip: If your mouth is dry, try sucking in your cheeks as if eating something sour to increase flow from the salivary glands.)

Oral Hygiene Don’ts

* Don’t forget to clean behind your back teeth.
* Don’t give mouthwash or fluoride toothpaste to young children, as they can swallow it.
* Don’t clean your tongue so hard that it hurts.
* Don’t rely on mouthwash alone too keep your teeth and gums clean and your breath fresh. Practice complete oral hygiene.
* Don’t ignore your gums – you can lose your teeth as well as have bad breath.
* Don’t drink too much coffee.
* Don’t smoke.

To maintain your fillings, simply follow good oral hygiene practices. Visit your dentist regularly, preferably once every six months, brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride-containing toothpaste, and floss at least once daily.

If you notice anything different about your dental fillings, contact your dentist immediately. While filling a tooth is an easy task for an experienced dentist, some inevitable problems may arise in the process.

One of these is pain and sensitivity. This normally happens in the first few weeks after a filling is placed. The filled tooth may react to sweet foods, pressure, air, or temperature. Usually, this disappears and no medication is required. If not, tell your dentist.

If biting is painful, this may be caused by the filling that needs to be reshaped. Pain may also be due to two different metal surfaces that touch. This results when an amalgam filling touches a gold filling. No treatment is necessary in this case since the pain disappears on its own with time.

The act of chewing, grinding and clenching teeth can likewise cause dental fillings to wear away, chip or crack. Sometimes this is discovered during a routine dental checkup. Untreated, this can cause trouble later.

All this can be avoided if you pay more attention to your teeth. It may sound corny but the old adage still rings true – be true to your teeth and they will never be false to you!