Maintaining proper oral hygiene levels and keeping our teeth clean will result in healthy strong teeth. If you have a healthy mouth, half of the problems with your body will automatically disappear. If you have a healthy mouth it will mean that your gums are pink and they do not bleed, you do not suffer from bad breath constantly and the teeth are clean and free from decay and cavity. Visiting a dentist at regular intervals is very important, but apart from that you can even practice other hygiene methods at home to heave a healthy mouth. Below is list of thing that you should and you shouldn't do.

    Do's

    Brush your teeth at least twice a day or preferably after each meal with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Brushing regularly will keep your teeth clean and reduce the chances of decay. But use a soft bristled brush, a brush with hard bristles may be rough on your gums and can make them bleed.

    Floss once a day at bedtime. Toothbrush cannot reach in the tiny corners between teeth and by flossing we can make sure that the corners and crevices remain as clean as the rest of the teeth.

    Use a mouthwash on a daily basis, and preferably one that has fluoride after consulting your dentist.

    Use a tongue cleaner every day and keep the tongue clean. It is important to have the tongue as clean as the rest of the mouth.

    Eat a healthy diet, eating a healthy diet will ensure that we get enough calcium which is vital for the health of our teeth.

    Chewing medicated chewing gum is also not a bad idea.

    Drink enough quantity of milk to get your daily requirements of calcium, if you are allergic to milk and milk products take calcium supplements.

    Don'ts

    Don't eat food with too much sugar in them. Excessive sugar can decay teeth.

    Stay away from excessive coffee or soft drinks. Coffee and soft drinks have a high content of caffeine in them which can discolor your teeth.

    Do not smoke excessively. Apart from all the other health hazards that smoking causes, they also damage your teeth and gums. Smoking also makes your breath smell bad.

    Children should be kept away from mouthwashes. If children are allowed to use mouthwash they might swallow it which can present other health hazards.

    Following these simple guidelines can ensure proper oral hygiene. Those with braces need to take extra care. They need to ensure that they follow up all their appointments at the orthodontist. They should also stay away from certain food items that may be sticky or crunchy. Children especially should visit an orthodontist regularly so that any early problems can de detected and worked upon. Maintaining oral hygiene will ensure that we have shiny white teeth and healthy gums. It ensures that our natural teeth would last long into our life. But apart from that it can also prevent a host of dental illnesses and problems that can cost us plenty of money for treatment.

    保持适当的口腔卫生和牙齿洁净才会有健康结实的牙齿，如果你有健康的口腔，身体一半的问题就会自然消失，如果你口腔健康意味着你的牙龈是粉红色的而且不会出血，不会总有口气的烦恼、干净的牙齿也免于虫蛀和空洞的发生，定期去看牙医是非常重要的，除了这些之外在家中你还要采取一些其他的方法来保持口腔卫生，下面列举的是你应该做什么、不应该做什么。

    应该这样去做：

    1. 每天至少刷牙两次，最好饭后用含氟牙膏刷牙，规律的刷牙能够保持牙齿清洁减少蛀牙发生的机率。最好使用软毛牙刷，硬毛牙刷会损伤牙龈，导致牙龈出血。

    2. 睡前使用牙线一次，牙膏不能够达到牙齿间的缝隙内，牙线能够到达牙齿的缝隙间，从而确保牙齿彻底清洁。

    3. 每天要使用漱口液，最好请教牙医并使用含氟的漱口液。

    4. 每天使用舌清洁器，保持口腔内舌头清洁是非常重要的。

    5. 吃健康的饮食，吃健康的饮食能确保机体摄入足够的钙，对牙齿的健康是非常重要的。

    6. 咀嚼医用口香糖也是一项不错的方法。

    7. 喝足够量的牛奶能使你保持每天的钙基本需要量，如果你对牛奶或奶制品过敏就要加服钙替补剂。

    不应该这样做：

    1. 不要吃太多含糖食物，太多的糖能腐蚀牙齿。

    2. 远离过量的咖啡和软饮料，咖啡和软饮料含有很多的咖啡碱能够使牙齿变色。

    3. 不要过多的吸烟，吸烟除了能引起其他的健康问题外，还能损害你的牙齿和牙龈，吸烟使你产生难闻的气味。

    4. 孩子们最好不要使用漱口液，如果孩子们使用漱口液他们有可能将它咽下而出现其他的健康损害情况。

    按上面这些简单的指导措施去做就能确保适当的口腔卫生，那些牙齿矫形的人还需要做特殊护理，确保按医师约定的时间去看牙齿矫形医师并要远离某些食物，像有可能刺伤或使牙齿脆裂的食物，孩子们尤其应该定期去看牙齿矫形医师以至于尽早发现问题尽早处理，保持口腔卫生能使你的牙齿洁白闪亮、牙龈健康。这样能使牙齿伴随我们的终生，除了这些还能够预防牙病的发生及治疗牙病所花费的大量金钱