This document provides oral hygiene instructions and recommendations for maintaining good oral health. It discusses why oral hygiene is important for preventing dental issues, overall health, and personal well-being. The basic steps for good oral hygiene include brushing teeth twice daily, interdental cleaning with floss or brushes, maintaining a healthy diet, practicing self-examination of the mouth, and regular dental checkups. Proper brushing removes plaque from all tooth surfaces, while interdental cleaning reaches between teeth. A balanced diet supports oral health, and checkups allow early detection of dental problems. Regular self-exams check for issues like cavities or gum disease.

1. ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS
Dr. Kumari liyanage
Institute of Oral Health
Maharagama

2. ORAL HYGIENE
Oral hygienic measures include all the processes of keeping the mouth clean and healthy

3. WHY ORAL HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT?
 Good oral hygiene is necessary for prevention of dental caries. Periodontal disease ,
bad breath, oral cancer …..and keep you free of dental pain
 Saves money which is required for all kinds of dental treatments
 It gives a pleasant smile which improves your personality
 Its measure of overall hygiene of a person
 Good oral health is important to your overall well- being

4. BASIC STEPS OF MAINTAINING GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
 1.Brushing your teeth
 2. Interdental cleaning (inter-dental brush/floss)
 3. Healthy diet
 4. chemical plaque control method (?)
 5. Self – mouth examination
 6. Regular dental check –ups

5. BRUSHING TEETH
Objective: to remove all the plaque from all the
places(surfaces) of mouth, where plaque can be
accumulated before hardening to form calculus.

6. GINGIVITIS/PERIODONTAL DISEASES

7. WHAT REQUIRES FOR BRUSHING TEETH?
 How to select a proper tooth brush
1. Smooth bristles 2. Small head

8. HOW TO SELECT AN APPROPRIATE TOOTH PASTE
 1. Containing fluoride (1000-1500ppm)
 2. Smooth in consistency

9. BRUSHING TEETH
 Brush twice daily , morning and before going to sleep at night
 Brush all three surfaces (outer, inner, biting) of teeth focus on the area where the
tooth meets the gingiva.
 Place the tooth brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and brush with short strokes
while applying a light pressure
 Gentle brushing for 2 minutes is adequate
 Vigorous brushing and over brushing can cause tooth brush abrasion, sensitive teeth,
and receding gums

12. INTER- DENTAL CLEANING
 For small spaces between teeth dental floss can be used

13. Inter-dental brush- for large spaces
 Remove plaque from surfaces in between teeth where a tooth brush
can not be reached.

14. CHEMICAL PLAQUE CONTROL METHODS
 Only be used according to a recommendation of a dental surgeon

15. HOW TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BRUSHING?
 Plaque which is hardened in to calculus due to inadequate plaque
control measures needed to remove by professional cleaning

17. HEALTHY DIET

18. HEALTHY DIET FOR ORAL HEALTH
 Fresh fruits, Vegetables , pulses, Foods rich in calcium and protein are
good for oral health(fish, dried fish, poultry, lean meat, chees, milk,
yoghurt, curd, leafy greens)
 Maximum added sugar in your diet – 6 teaspoons
 Eat natural foods more avoid processed food
 Avoid frequent unhealthy snacks between main meals
 Avoid sticky foods like Toffees, biscuits, cakes, pastries
 Avoid fizzy drinks, juices
 Drink enough water to quench your thirst
 Better to eat fresh fruits in the form of cut pieces,
 Fruit juices are good without added sugar

19. UNHEALTHY FOODS

20. SELF- MOUTH EXAMINATION
 At least perform once a month
 In a place where there is a good lightening examine inside the mouth in
–front of a mirror. (or with a face mirror)
 Look for initial dental caries(white or brown patch in a tooth, swelling in
the gingiva , calculus, change in coloure of oral mucosa (white, red),
abnormal growth or any change in any surface of the mouth

21. SELF –MOUTH EXAMINATION

22. REGULAR DENTAL CHECK UPS
 For adults at least once a year according to recommendation of a
Dental Surgeon based on risk
 Helps to early identification of dental diseases and avoid complications.

23. ORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN
 Start brushing once first tooth is appeared with a soft bristled
junior toothbrush.
 Use a smear layer of fluoridated toothpaste until 3 years
 Never use a finger brush
 Scrub technique is appropriate for brushing(direct tooth brush
bristles at an angle towards gum line. move the brush in small
circles over each teeth)
 3-6 years increase the tooth paste amount up to pea size
 Until 8 years assist in brushing
 At the age of one year first Dental Visit
 According to the risk regular dental visits (6 monthly)

24. Thank you