Good oral hygiene is of upmost importance to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Daily cleaning, regular checkups and generally taking care of your teeth will insure your teeth remain strong and healthy into your golden years. Good cleaning practices also helps to ward off gum disease.

Brushing
At the very least you should be brushing your teeth 3 times a day, preferably after each meal, but take care not to brush after eating acidic foods for at least 15 minutes. Acidic foods such as apples soften the tooth's enamel. Choose the correct hardness brush, if in doubt consult your dentist, choosing a brush that it is too hard will cause pain and gum bleeding.

Dental flossing
Flossing is an important part of dental care as it removes plaque from teeth at the gum line, further reducing tooth decay and gum disease. Consult with your dentist which is the correct floss for you, there are many varieties.

Cleaning by a hygienist
At least once a year you should visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning

What does the cleaning entail?
Most cleansing will be undertaken by the hygienist, but firstly the dentist will inspect your teeth and gums looking for anything out of the ordindary, plaque buildup is normal in all people. The hygienist will use a series of tools to clean and polish your teeth. A scaler is a sharp metal tool to remove hard plaque, it can be uncomfortable and slightly painful depending on the amount of plaque and your sensitivity. Buffers will remove softer plaque and doesn't generally hurt. You can expect to be in the dentists chair for half an hour going up to an hour if there is a lot of plauqe buildup