Having beautiful and healthy teeth is true happiness. However, it’s regrettable to admit that in our time, there are practically no people who have kept their teeth healthy throughout their entire lives. Oral hygiene is the first and most important component of maintaining a healthy mouth. And this should be started from childhood.
However, it’s important to understand that simply “smearing” toothpaste in your mouth is not the solution to the problem. Oral hygiene is a complex, ongoing process. AdmiGram.com will tell you everything about proper tooth brushing so that your dentist never has to drill your teeth again. Teach your children the correct way to brush their teeth from a young age!
Oral hygiene: taking care of teeth from an early age
When should you brush your teeth?
© Luiz Filipe Carneiro Machado / Flickr
Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes before breakfast, and in the evening after dinner, before going to bed.
Never brush your teeth immediately after eating because it can damage tooth enamel. This is especially dangerous after consuming carbonated drinks, fruits, wine, or other foods that may contain acids. Acids, combined with sugars, increase the acidity in the mouth, thereby further and more quickly eroding tooth enamel.
The best option is to brush your teeth an hour after eating to allow the mouth’s acidity levels to return to normal.
Which toothbrush is better, electric or manual?
In reality, it doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or a traditional manual toothbrush. Both options are equally good if the brushing process itself is done properly. However, some people find it easier to brush their teeth with an electric toothbrush.
How to choose the right toothbrush?
For almost any adult, a toothbrush with a small head and long and short bristles angled at the end will suffice. Most people are comfortable with toothbrushes with soft bristles of medium length. An electric toothbrush should have an oscillating or rotating head.
Nevertheless, considering your individual oral cavity anatomy, the best recommendations for the most suitable type of toothbrush for you can be provided by a dentist.
What toothpaste is better to use?
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The cleaning agents and particles in toothpaste help remove plaque from your teeth, leaving them clean and healthy. Additionally, most toothpaste brands contain fluoride, which helps prevent the formation of cavities. It’s crucial to use toothpaste with the right fluoride concentration. Check the packaging for information on the fluoride content of a particular toothpaste brand.
Acceptable fluoride concentrations in toothpaste
Fluoride plays a vital role in tooth development, but an excess of it can be highly toxic and lead to irreversible enamel damage, known as fluorosis. Depending on the degree of fluorosis, teeth can develop white, yellow, or brown spots, stripes, defects, and become more prone to chipping and decay.
- For children under 4 years old, toothpaste with a fluoride concentration of no more than 200 ppm is suitable (these values should be clearly indicated on the toothpaste packaging).
- For children aged 4–8, no more than 500 ppm is recommended.
- Between the ages of 8–14, a toothpaste with a fluoride content of around 1400 ppm can be used.
- For adults, a toothpaste applied to the brush with a fluoride content of approximately 1450 ppm is suitable.
How to brush your teeth correctly?
There are general rules and advice on how to brush your teeth correctly that apply to everyone:
- Position the toothbrush head against your teeth. Tilt the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and make several small circular motions on the surface of each tooth.
- Using the above technique, clean the surface of each tooth (both upper and lower) from the outside.
- Use the same brushing technique for the inside surface of all teeth.
- Clean the chewing surfaces of molars.
- To clean the inside surface of front teeth, tilt the toothbrush vertically and make several small circular motions with the tip of the brush.
- If you also brush your tongue, it will freshen your breath and remove bacteria from your mouth.
How to use dental floss?
Dental floss is not only used to remove food particles stuck between teeth. Regular use of dental floss can also reduce gingivitis (gum inflammation) and unpleasant breath by removing plaque that forms along the gumline.
- Take about 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) of dental floss, making sure there’s a few centimeters taut between your hands.
- Insert the floss between your teeth near the gums.
- Gently move the floss up and down between all your teeth to remove food particles and plaque.
- Use dental floss at least once a day. It’s best to do this in the evening before bedtime.
- Dental floss can be used both before and after brushing, and the effect will be equally positive.
Some people use special interdental brushes instead of dental floss, which can also be an effective tool for cleaning. This is especially relevant if your teeth are very close together and the gaps between them are too narrow for dental floss.
Avoid using toothpicks to remove food particles stuck between your teeth. This can lead to gum bleeding, which may introduce infection.
Mouthwash
© JC Gellidon / Unsplash
Using a mouthwash with fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and eliminate food residue and bacteria that may have been missed by brushing. However, remember one rule: do not use mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth. It’s better to choose a different time, like after lunch. Also, refrain from eating or drinking for 30 minutes after using a fluoride-containing mouthwash.
Many mouthwashes contain alcohol, so they are not suitable for children due to the possibility of accidental ingestion. Using a mouthwash with alcohol can cause dryness in the mouth, which can lead to dry lips and, as a result, chapped lips. This can be avoided by using alcohol-free mouthwashes.
image on top: Diana Polekhina / Unsplash
