Tips for a healthy mouth

Follow this routine, ideally by yourself, or with the help of a carer:
Brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day, most importantly after meals and at night time.  Use a  toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste;
 
Start at the front top teeth and work your way around all the gum teeth surface until you reach the very back tooth, ensure that you clean around the back tooth and carry on brushing the palatal surfaces of all teeth and gums all the way from one top tooth to the opposite side then clean around that opposite back tooth and continue to brush the outer gum teeth surfaces until you join up to where you started, then repeat the process on the lower teeth.
 
If the gums bleed brush them more and ensure that you floss or use tepes brushes in the troublesome areas more frequently. Healthy gums do not bleed and if this persists when you have continued to clean your teeth well do seek advice from your dentist.

Remove any debris that you can see in your mouth or on your tongue by gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush. If possible, do this regularly but mainly after meals and at bedtime. 
If you wear dentures, remove them at night. Clean dentures with a soft toothbrush . Soak overnight in a denture solution containing sodium hypochlorite. Rinse before use the next day. (soak metal dentures in chlorhexidine solution.)

If you have a high risk of developing mouth problems (for example, if you have radiotherapy to the head or neck), it is best to increase the frequency of the measures above. For example, rinse your mouth every 1-2 hours.
 
More about mouthwashes
water or saline (described above) are the most commonly used mouthwashes. They are soothing, do no harm, and are safe to use as often as you like.
chlorhexidine mouthwash is sometimes advised if you are at risk of mouth infection. However, you should not normally use this more than twice a day. It contains alcohol which may sting, especially if your mouth is inflamed. If you do use this twice a day, you can always use water or sodium chloride mouthwashes as often as you like in between.
other mouthwashes such as ascorbic acid solution, hydrogen peroxide mouthwash or sodium bicarbonate mouthwash may be advised by a doctor or nurse in certain circumstances.
it is best not to use glycerine or lemon mouthwashes. They often increase the sensation of a dry mouth.
Some mouth problems that may occur if you are unwell
 
Dry mouth
Dry mouth has various causes. Simple measures such as drinking frequent sips of water and chewing sugar-free gum will often help. This may be all that is needed in many cases. Artificial saliva or medication to stimulate the salivary glands is sometimes used. See separate leaflet called 'dry mouth' for details.
 
Oral thrush (oral candida)
Thrush is an infection caused by a yeast germ called candida. Small numbers of candida commonly live in a healthy mouth. They are usually harmless. However, certain situations may cause an overgrowth of candida which may lead to a bout of oral thrush. These include a dry mouth, and if you are in general poor health. The classical symptom is for white spots to develop in the mouth. However, often there are no white spots and areas within the mouth may just become red and sore. Most cases are treated with drops, lozenges or a gel which contains an anti-thrush drug such as nystatin, amphotericin or miconazole. Anti-thrush tablets such as fluconazole are sometimes used. See separate leaflet called 'thrush - oral' for details.
 
Mouth ulcers
Aphthous mouth ulcers are the most common type. They are painful, and can recur from time to time. Each bout of ulcers usually goes away in time without treatment. Mouthwashes and steroid lozenges may ease the pain, and may help the ulcers to heal more quickly. For details see separate leaflet called 'mouth ulcers (aphthous type)'. Other types of mouth ulcer sometimes develop. Your doctor will advise on treatment.
 
Halitosis (bad breath)
In most cases of persistent bad breath, the smell comes from a build-up of bacteria within the mouth - in food debris, plaque and gum disease, or in a coating on the back of the tongue or due to gastric regurgitation. Good oral hygiene will sometimes solve the problem. That is, routine mouth care described above, and in addition (if possible) regular flossing, scraping the back of the tongue, and antiseptic mouthwashes. See separate leaflet called 'bad breath' for details. Other causes of bad breath may develop in people who are unwell. For example, oral thrush, a dry mouth, and tumours in the mouth can cause bad breath. If these can be treated then this may clear the bad breath.