Oral care is an essential part of good overall health. It helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean, and it also helps you to prevent bad breath, cavities and other problems that may affect your oral health care. Bad breath can be caused by several factors, including poor dental hygiene. If you don't brush or floss regularly, bacteria can build up on the surface of your teeth and cause halitosis (bad breath). The American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least 2 minutes daily with a dentist-approved product designed for adults and children. 

Cavities are caused by tooth decay, which occurs when food particles lodged between teeth cause damage to the underlying enamel layer. Once this layer has been weakened by decay, bacteria can penetrate the pulp cavity - where nerve cells are located - causing inflammation and pain. For this reason, regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste is recommended for people at risk of developing cavities. 

Causes of poor oral hygiene:  

Lack of time:  

Most people have too much time on their hands, which results in spending more time doing things that don't require much effort, like watching TV or playing video games. This can lead to poor brushing and flossing at home, leading to bad oral health and hygiene habits. 

Stress:  

Stress can cause individuals to lose focus and neglect their oral health because they feel there is no way to fix it themselves. They may not see the long-term benefits of oral dental care either, which makes them feel hopeless about their situation and instead opt for other methods that are quick and easy to solve their problem (such as smoking cigarettes). 

Lack of sleep:  

Your overall health will suffer if you don't get enough sleep each night. Your tooth enamel becomes thinner over time due to a lack of calcium intake while sleeping through the night without brushing or flossing after eating something with sugar before bedtime. 

Tips to maintain oral hygiene: 

Brush twice a day: 

Brushing is the first step in preventing gum disease, tooth decay, and to maintain cavity oral hygeine. The fluoride in toothpaste helps prevent cavities from forming, and the tiny particles in toothpaste help remove plaque from between your teeth. To keep your breath fresh, brush at least twice daily: before breakfast and after dinner. If you are going to eat something that might be difficult to get out of your mouth (such as a piece of fruit), wait after brushing for 45 minutes before eating. This will ensure that your brushing has done its job properly. 

Floss regularly: 

Regular flossing can remove plaque between teeth and around the gums, helping prevent gum disease (gum disease) and tooth decay. If you don't floss regularly, consider using an electric flosser or interdental brush that gently cleans between teeth rather than pulling on loose gums with stringy wires like regular floss does. 

Choose oral care products wisely: 

It's essential to choose toxin-free and effective oral care products to avoid side effects. Healthvit's versatile range of oral hygiene products contains no harmful chemicals or parabens. 

Quit smoking: 

 Regular smoking is one of the most common causes of poor oral health and mouth cancer. In addition, smoking can cause bad breath and tooth discolouration. Regular smokers are likely to have gum infections, weak teeth, and a lower success rate of dental implant procedures. 

Choose your toothbrush wisely:  

There could be various options in the market, but electronic and soft-bristled toothbrushes are the safest for oral care. These toothbrushes gently cleanse your skin without scrubbing hard or inflicting any pain. Plastic toothbrushes with regular bristles need rigorous scrubbing that might damage the gum and cause enamel loss. Replace your toothbrush every three months to avoid bacteria build-up. 

Reduce coffee intake: 

After smoking, another harmful habit for our oral health is running on espresso shots. Any dark-colour caffeinated drinks like coffee or red wine can harm your enamel and leave a yellowish stain on your teeth. Coffee also contains harmful acids that can damage enamel and lead to tooth decay afterwards. If you can't give up the habit completely, try to watch out for the frequency and drink it with a straw so that your teeth have minimal caffeine exposure. 

Eat a nutritious diet: 

Oral health products don't assure 100% safety until and unless you infuse that with a healthy, nutritious diet. Chewing apples can keep sweet tooth cravings and cavities at bay. Crunchy veggies like carrots or celery can prevent gum infection and helps fight cavities. Overall, a nutritious diet that contains fresh fruits, veggies, chicken, and fish will help boost your dental hygiene. 

Reduce sugar intake: 

Avoiding desserts, alcohol, and sugary drinks is integral to maintain oral hygiene. Sugary foods and drinks contain harmful acidic content that can cause bacterial infection and cavities.