Oral Hygiene Recommendations and Best Practices

Maintain a healthy smile with consistent oral hygiene!

Schedule a Consultation Today to Assess Your Oral Hygiene

Are you curious whether your oral hygiene meets the standard for healthy teeth and gums? Then, schedule a visit with our experienced team of Batavia dentists to assess your current oral hygiene. We can schedule any necessary dental treatment or follow-up appointments from there.

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What is Oral Hygiene?

Preventative care best describes oral hygiene. Preventative care involves taking care of your teeth and gums through consistent preventive care. Stay on top of your oral hygiene. You can prevent oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, and halitosis ("bad breath").

What Are the Sign of Poor Oral Hygiene?

If you notice any of these issues, we recommend contacting your local Batavia, IL dentist at Ronald A. Murphy to schedule an appointment.

Keep an eye out for these key warning indicators of poor oral hygiene:


  • Bleeding gums after flossing
  • Tooth decay
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • Gum recession
  • Toothache
  • Jaw swelling
  • Mouth sores


If you notice any of these issues, we recommend contacting your local Batavia, IL dentist at Ronald A. Murphy to schedule an appointment.

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Oral Hygiene Best Practices

  • Brushing Your Teeth

    We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice daily for optimal health effects. Use fluoride toothpaste with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you use medium or hard-bristled brushes, you risk damaging your gums or enamel. Instead, try brushing at a 45-degree angle towards your gums to aid in sweeping away plaque and bacteria nested at the gum line. Be sure to brush the backs and sides of your teeth to hit all areas, too.

  • Floss Daily

    It's recommended to floss at least once a day to hit those hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth. First, break off an 18-inch piece of floss and wrap each end around your middle fingers. Then, you can use your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss between your teeth. Pro tip: wrap the floss in a C-shape around your tooth and use about ten up-and-down strokes for adequate coverage.


    Water flossers, or water picks, are an exceptional alternative to traditional floss. They are great for people who have difficulty flossing and removing pieces of food and debris. However, they have a more challenging time removing biofilm from your teeth, which is where traditional floss can help. 


    We recommend seeing a dentist if you notice bleeding in the gum area when flossing.

  • Brushing Your Tongue

    Our tongues are hangouts for bacteria in our mouths. So always brush your tongue when brushing your teeth to remove bacteria from its surface. You can use your toothbrush or use a tongue scraper, which you can find in the oral health aisle of your preferred store. Brushing your tongue also helps with bad breath.

  • Use Antibacterial Mouthwash

    Adding an antibacterial mouthwash to your daily oral hygiene routine will help keep bacteria at bay. It helps reduce plaque buildup and eliminate food or debris missed when brushing. In addition, we recommend an alcohol-free mouthwash to prevent dry mouth

  • Visit Your Dentist Regularly

    Seeing your dentist at least twice a year for checkups helps keep your oral hygiene in check. Your dentist will be able to spot any abnormalities and recommend products and practices that could help. Six-month visits are standard, but you can always do more if you are more prone to cavities, gum disease, or other oral health issues.

  • Avoid Tobacco Products

    Smoking and tobacco products have adverse oral health effects. Try to avoid them as best you can. If you use them, try to do so in moderation and keep up with other areas of your oral hygiene routine.

What Are the Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene?

Good oral hygiene helps prevent more serious dental health issues. By keeping up with your hygiene, you are engaging in preventative care that helps in the long run. Other benefits of good oral hygiene include:


  • Healthier teeth and gums
  • A beautiful, whiter smile
  • Fresher breath
  • Reduced need for dental work like fillings, crowns, implants, and dentures
  • Lower risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues
  • Lower risk of oral cancer 

Why Our Dentistry?

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  • OVER 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

    Batavia IL dentist Dr. Ronald Murphy graduated from dental school in 2002, and worked as an associate dentist for 2 years before moving to Batavia. He has completed over 800 hours of continuing education since graduating from dental school.

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  • EVENING APPOINTMENTS

    We know that sometimes it is difficult to find the time to get to the dentist so we have convenient morning appointments that start at 7 am and evening appointments that go to 7 pm.

Ronald A. Murphy has over 21 years of experience servicing residents of Batavia, IL. Our practice specializes in cosmetic and general dentistry. It can help with preventative care, oral surgery, fillings, crown replacements, and more. In addition, Dr. Murphy has completed 800+ hours of continued education credits since finishing dental school


You can learn more about Dr. Murphy and our practice here.

About Us

Which Insurance Networks Do You Accept?

We work with most PPO insurance policies from companies like Metlife, Cigna, etc. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, check, or cash. We also offer flexible financing options through Lending Club, Care Credit, and Alpheon.


If you have any questions about our financial plans, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Cigna logo: a stylized tree with a person inside, and the company name in blue.
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How Our Office Works

Schedule Your Consultation

Connect with our administrative staff via phone, email, or online form. Our team can help you set up an initial consultation to assess your oral hygiene.

Dental Health Assessment

Our team will look at your teeth and gums to determine which if any, dental care procedures could help you in pursuit of optimal oral health.

Schedule Follow-Up Appointments

We will get you on our schedule for your filling based on your convenience. We can also schedule a follow-up appointment with you to confirm that the filling is working as it should.

Contact Us to Schedule Your First Appointment

We are always accepting new patients! So, if you are a Batavia, IL, resident seeking oral care from a trusted local professional, look no further! We are happy to help and look forward to bringing you into our offices.

Oral Hygiene Page