The oral cavity, including lips, gums, teeth, tongue and other structures, is an important part of the human body. These structures are required for chewing, swallowing, speaking and also play a vital role in the aesthetics (appearance) of a person.
It is said that,“ Being healthy is the foremost happiness.” A healthy body includes healthy gums and teeth too.
Let’s learn some basic things related to routine dental care which are important for maintaining optimal oral health.
It is important to have healthy teeth and gums to chew the food- one of the basic needs for survival.
Different types of microorganisms responsible for causing various diseases can enter the body through mouth.
Many systemic diseases are connected to dental diseases ( diseases related to teeth and gums). Periodontitis (pyorrhea) may be linked to a number of systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and low birth weight. 1, 2 Oral health is associated with overall health.
A properly aligned cavity-free teeth and healthy gums can create a beautiful smile, leaving a positive impact on everyone you meet.
The oral cavity is an important structure for both function as well as the overall facial appearance of a person. So, following a healthy oral care routine is essential.
Brush twice daily- in the morning and at night before going to bed, the first step to good oral health.
Brushing should be adequate enough to cover all the surfaces of all the teeth in the oral cavity.
Practice age-appropriate brushing techniques.
The modified Bass technique is one commonly recommended brushing method for adults 3, although brushing techniques may be individualized based on a person's oral-health needs and guidance from a dentist.
Gentle brushing using a soft bristle toothbrush is advisable as medium and hard bristle toothbrushes may be harmful to teeth or gums.
Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head about every three months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
Only a pea sized toothpaste is enough for one time brushing.
One must take care not to swallow the toothpaste.
Do not rinse immediately after brushing, just spit out excess toothpaste. 4
The NHS advises people to spit out excess toothpaste and avoid rinsing with water immediately after brushing. 4 Rinsing can wash away/dilute the concentrated fluoride (received from toothpaste) remaining on the teeth and reduce its preventive effect. Fluoride plays an important role in preventing caries.
The food debris and bacteria can stick to the tongue, so gently cleaning it using a tongue scraper can remove these coatings.
Tongue cleaning is also an important step for a refreshing breath.
Most people miss this step.
A regular toothbrush may not reach the interdental spaces (space between two adjacent teeth).
Use of dental floss can remove the debris from these spaces.
Either a regular floss or a floss with a handle can be used.
In some people, due to the gum recession, these interdental spaces are widened. For them, use of interdental (proxa) brushes is advisable to remove the food stuck between the teeth and prevent cavities between the teeth.
Water flossers are also effective in removing the food debris and plaque from interdental spaces. They are expensive but highly useful for patients with implants, crowns, or orthodontic treatments, and for people with limited manual dexterity. 5
Dr. Ankina Vyas, MDS (Periodontology), Pune explaining the importance of mouth rinsing, says, “Gargling may help control plaque and bacteria which are responsible for periodontitis. It may reach the areas that are not cleaned by tooth brushes. It may help reduce inflammation and support healing. It may help remove bad smells from the mouth.”
It is always a good practice to do gargles simply using water after taking any food which helps keep the mouth free of debris.
For individuals with high caries risk, fluoride mouthwashes can be used under expert guidance only as an adjunct to self dental care and professional care. 6 It is advisable to keep a time gap between brushing and use of a mouthwash. 6
According to a study, short-term (2-4 weeks) use of antimicrobial mouthwashes may be beneficial to individuals with mild to moderate periodontitis. 6
In individuals with good periodontal health and low caries risk, use of any type of mouthwashes (antimicrobial, oil based or fluoride) is not recommended as a part of routine dental care. 6
Thus, mouthwashes may be of use to people with particular dental disorders when used alongside self dental care and professional treatment under expert guidelines only.
Clean the gums from birth with a clean, soft cloth, or infant toothbrush. Begin brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts.Dr. Sneha Nair, MDS, Consultant, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Pune
Dr. Sneha Nair, MDS (Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry), Pune notes the following points about routine dental care for children during her visit with MedBound Times:
Brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste. The amount of toothpaste should be a rice-grain smear for below 3 years and a pea-sized amount from 3–6 years.
Parents should assist young children during brushing.
Recommended brushing technique for kids below six years of age is Fone’s method (circular scrub method). 3
Clean the tongue gently once daily with a soft toothbrush, particularly to remove accumulated coating and debris.
Limit frequent use of sugary snacks and drinks, particularly between meals and at bedtime.
Establish a dental home by 12 months of age (or within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth) for individualized preventive care.
Mouthwash is not a routine requirement for young children. Fluoride mouth rinses are an adjunct for selected children who can reliably spit it out, rather than a routine recommendation for infants/preschoolers. However, use of mouthwash should be considered only if recommended by a dentist.
Dr. Ronak Bhatt, MDS (Prosthodontics), Dentist at Bhatt Dental Care, Vadodara, Gujarat, a specialized dentist for fixed (crowns, bridges, and implants) and removable (denture) prosthesis shares his expertise with MedBound Times.
Soak Removable Dentures: Take out dentures from the mouth at night and soak them in a recommended cleaning solution. Use normal tap water and never boiling water. They should be cleaned using a brush before wearing them the next day.
Brush Your Gums: Clean your gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth daily before putting your dentures back in the mouth.
Visit Your Dentist: Set an appointment with your dentist if your dentures feel loose or cause painful sores.
It is important to clean the space under your dental bridge. A floss or interdental brushes along with thorough rinsing may help remove food trapped below the dental bridges.Dr. Ronak Bhatt, MDS (Prosthodontics), Dentist, Bhatt Dental Care, Vadodara, Gujarat
“If a dental crown or bridge feels loose, cracks, or falls out, contact your dentist as soon as possible, ” added Dr. Ronak.
The importance of regular dental check-ups can not be neglected. In some cases oral health may help to diagnose a systemic condition that the patient may not be aware of.Dr. Monali Prajapati, MDS (OMR), Consultant, Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Early stage (enamel) caries occur without any complaint.
Routine dental check-ups can detect these caries and preventive dental treatments can be carried out.
Early detection can allow simple preventive treatments such as fillings, teeth cleaning etc. and may help prevent more extensive and costly dental procedures.
Professional teeth cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the gumline, below the gums and interdental spaces that can not be removed through normal brushing and flossing.
A routine oral examination can help identify suspicious changes or lesions that may require further evaluation for oral cancer.
In case of children, a routine dental check-up can rule out any abnormal oral habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing etc. and their effects on teeth malalignment.
Early intervention of oral habits and malaligned teeth in children may help break the habit as well as better treat the malaligned teeth.
So better not to miss your routine dental examination.
Although six-monthly dental visits are commonly recommended, there is no single interval that is appropriate for everyone. The frequency of dental examinations should be based on factors such as oral-health status, caries risk, periodontal disease and other individual needs, particularly in adults. 7
Along with all the steps mentioned here for routine dental care, the importance of a healthy diet and drinking enough water can not be ignored.
Limiting sugary and sticky foods, carbonated drinks, and drinking enough water may help prevent many dental diseases, such as cavities, enamel wear, dry mouth, bad breath and more.
Seek dental care if you have.
Persistent sensitivity to cold or hot foods/drinks
Pain on chewing
Food getting trapped between teeth
Severe continuous pain in any of the teeth
Tooth pain that awakens you at night
Bleeding while brushing
loose adult tooth
broken/chipped tooth
Swollen gums
pus around gums/tooth
Persistent bad breath or foul smell from mouth
Facial or oral swelling
Difficulty opening the mouth/ reduced mouth opening
Recurrent ulcers
Any type of white/red patches on gums or cheek mucosa
Malaligned teeth- spacing between teeth, crowding of teeth etc.
persistent dry mouth
These may be due to some underlying dental disease and may require dental consultation for proper diagnosis followed by treatment.
A simple healthy dental care routine may help you keep away from dental diseases and other related diseases. Following a healthy oral care routine and regular dental examinations may cost you much less than the treatment of advanced dental diseases.
References:
Li, X., Kolltveit, K. M., Tronstad, L., & Olsen, I. (2000). Systemic diseases caused by oral infection. Clinical microbiology reviews, 13(4), 547–558. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.13.4.547
D'Aiuto, F., Suvan, J., Siripaiboonpong, N., Gatzoulis, M. A., & D'Aiuto, F. (2025). The root of the matter: Linking oral health to chronic diseases prevention. International journal of cardiology. Congenital heart disease, 19, 100574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcchd.2025.100574
Bok H, Lee CH. Proper Tooth-Brushing Technique According to Patient’s Age and Oral Status. IJCPD 2020;16:149-153. https://doi.org/10.15236/ijcpd.2020.16.4.149
National Health Service. “How to Keep Your Teeth Clean.” NHS. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/how-to-keep-your-teeth-clean/
Mohapatra S, Rajpurohit L, Mohandas R, Patil S. Comparing the effectiveness of water flosser and dental floss in plaque reduction among adults: A systematic review. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2023;27(6):559-567. doi:10.4103/jisp.jisp_597_22
Brookes, Z. L. S., McCullough, M., Kumar, P., & McGrath, C. (2023). Mouthwashes: Implications for Practice. International dental journal, 73 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), S98–S101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2023.08.013
Amarasena N, Luzzi L, Brennan D. Effect of Different Frequencies of Dental Visits on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(19):6858. Published 2023 Sep 28. doi:10.3390/ijerph20196858