Unfortunately not many and as a consequence we are all victims of poor oral hygiene which can lead to gum infections and abscesses, gum recession, sensitive teeth, dental decay, bad breath and halitosis, bad tastes in the mouth, loose teeth and tooth loss, all conditions resulting from poor oral hygiene.

Studies have shown most people suffer from a degree of gum disease, for example dental plaque is a soft deposit composed of bacteria and food debris adhering to the teeth and gums. Unless it is cleaned away using the correct brushing technique and regular flossing it will harden to become tartar and no amount of brushing or flossing will remove it.

Plaque and Tartar can both cause and gums to inflame, inflamed gums have a tendency to bleed when you brush your teeth. When caught in the early stages it is possible to restore the gums to full health by removing Plaque and Tartar. The aim of treatment will be to halt further deterioration and maintain good control in future.

Good oral hygiene is very important but amazingly most are doing something wrong, many people for example risk damaging their teeth and gums further by using unsuitable items to remove trapped food between their teeth. It is not uncommon for example for them to use screwdrivers, needles, paper clips, knives in fact almost anything to hand!

Interdental wood sticks are shaped specifically for the task and are the best item to dislodge food caught between teeth, cocktail sticks whilst similar should be avoided as they can cause gum damage.

Many do not know how to brush their teeth properly, they don't clean between their teeth on a regular basis and removing odour causing bacteria from their tongues is unheard of .

The basics of good oral hygiene are as follows,

Using a soft tufted brush spend at least two minutes twice a day brushing your teeth, be sure to cover all areas inside, outside and the biting areas of each tooth paying particular attention where teeth meet the gums. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months at most. An electric toothbrush is more efficient and does a better job and consequently they have become very popular.

After brushing you should floss your teeth, if you are unsure how to floss ask your dental hygienist for their recommended method. Floss is like cotton thread and is drawn between the teeth to remove debris that your toothbrush cannot reach. If you have never floss before you may find that your gums will bleed that this should settle within a day or so but if it persists so your dentist as this may indicate the early stages of gum disease.

In summary, oral health education improves poor oral hygiene and the awareness of the importance of oral health care to overall health.