Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and free of debris, diseases, and other problems (e.g. bad breath, tooth decay etc.) by regular brushing of the teeth and cleaning between the teeth using dental floss.
It is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis. Good oral health habit is vital to ensuring your teeth stay healthy as you get older.
Regular visit to the dentist at least twice a year is an important aspect of oral hygiene.
Babies (0-2years)
Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gum with a clean moist cloth. As soon as the milk tooth appears in the mouth, brushing should be incorporated fully into the daily routine as milk teeth are prone to decay/cavities.
Use of a soft toothbrush/finger brush with a rice-grain-sized toothpaste specifically formulated for babies. This helps to remove plaque and massage the gum to relieve teething pain.
It is recommended for every child to have their first dental visit as soon as the first tooth appears in the mouth and not later than the first birthday.
Toddlers (2-5years)
Proper brushing habits should be as effective as possible. Children should be assisted with brushing to ensure all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned.
Use of a medium-textured toothbrush with a pea-sized toothpaste specifically for toddlers.
Age 8years and above should be allowed to brush themselves but under the supervision of an adult.
Use of a medium-textured toothbrush with groundnut-sized toothpaste specifically for their age.
Use of dental floss should be encouraged in children to clean out food debris in between the teeth.
Adolescent and Adults
Use of medium-textured toothbrush with fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Brushing should be done twice daily, morning and night.
Use of dental floss at least once daily.
Use of hard toothbrush and toothpick should be avoided as much as possible
