Patients are urged to consult with their dentist and dental hygienist to create an effective dental care plan. For instance, a dentist or hygienist can show a patient how to brush or floss to most effectively remove plaque and prevent decay. Using the wrong technique may injure a person’s gums.

Dental health plans are likely to include the following elements:

• Brushing. This plays a crucial role in removing plaque from the teeth. Experts recommend that people brush their teeth at least twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush. When brushing, people should always use toothpaste, which is also known as dentifrice. Brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride makes the structure of the teeth less vulnerable to decay. This occurs through remineralization, the process in which eroded areas of tooth enamel are rebuilt before a cavity can form.
  
  
• Flossing. This is an essential part of removing plaque between teeth that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing helps clean areas of the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach and also cleans debris from below the gumline. Flossing can be performed either before or after brushing the teeth. Everyone should floss at least once a day in addition to brushing twice daily, according to the American Dental Association. Some experts recommend flossing twice per day. A child’s teeth need to be flossed once the child develops teeth that touch.
  
  
• Regular visits to a dentist. Experts urge people to schedule at least two dental examinations and professional cleanings each year. This allows a dentist to identify signs of tooth decay and gum disease. Signs of other illnesses (e.g., nutritional deficiencies, immune system disorders, injury, cancer, other diseases or infections) may also be apparent during an examination. Most problems can be treated more effectively when caught early.
  
  
• Eating a proper diet. Diet has a profound effect on oral health. Eating certain foods containing simple or complex sugars (e.g., bread, cake, cereal, candy, soda) contributes to oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Poor nutrition can lead to premature tooth loss and bad breath (halitosis). People are urged to eat a well-balanced diet rich in minerals and vitamins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends eating 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This helps to stimulate saliva production and the remineralization of teeth.

A dental care plan may have to be updated as life circumstances change. For example, women who are pregnant may experience pregnancy gingivitis, a temporary inflammation of the gums that may cause the gums to bleed during brushing. Patients diagnosed with diabetes have an increased risk of gum disease, which can make it even more difficult to control blood sugar levels.