Dental professionals are themselves human and also practice what they teach. So here is a number of oral hygiene tips used by experts dentists that can translate into healthy gums and teeth if you adopt them.
Up your style of brushing
What matters is not really how many times you brush, but how well the brushing is done. People often brush haphazardly – focusing on only the visible parts of the teeth. But it shouldn’t be so. Take time to brush the part of your teeth near the tongue. Another important part is that close to the gum. Yes, bacteria can hide there and form plaque. These are vital areas you should look out for when brushing. Brush systematically, so you don’t leave any area untouched.
Rules may not matter
From research, a healthy brushing technique can give the best results if adopted two times a day for 2 minutes. But if you need to brush, let’s say thrice please go on, particularly when food particles get trapped between your teeth.
Are you in the habit of brushing after meals? Please do so an hour after eating, particularly if you have eaten foods containing acids. Brushing immediately will enforce the wearing down of your enamel via acid attack. This is because the acid weakens the tooth enamel. Please try and brush before you sleep – saliva production is low during night rest; thus, bacteria can attack teeth and gum readily. These bacteria and plaque must be cleared off as much as possible.
Floss regularly
Proper brushing cleans 3 out of the 5 surfaces a tooth has. The remaining two can only be cleaned by flossing. The tooth will be vulnerable to bacteria that cause dental issues where this is not done.
Flossing should be done once a day before brushing. To prevent the floss from slipping, take a sufficient amount and wrap it around your tooth to make a C-curve. Gently move the floss up and down between your tooth and gum to remove plaque—repeat the procedure on the other side of the tooth. Move to the next tooth and floss. For convenience, change the fingers holding the floss as you make up, down, left and right movements.
You can floss at any time. But flossing in the evening makes sense as it gets rid of food particles collected during the day.
Use interdental brushes
This comes in handy when you’re using dental restorations like crowns, implants, or braces, as you won’t be able to floss the conventional way. Another good option is a water flosser like that from Spotlight. It takes out bacteria from the teeth and gums by using water pressure and different vibratory motions.
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Use teeth whitening cautiously
Age-related changes happen to the teeth. This is basically caused by what we eat and drink – they bring stains and discolour the teeth. Coloured beverages and foods like tea, coffee, tomato sauce will stain your teeth and should be avoided if you like bright teeth. You may want to go for whitening toothpaste but be careful. Regular whitening toothpaste removes stains from teeth surface, however with time, they erode the enamel leading to tooth discolouration.
If you need teeth whitening, please get it from a dental expert. The treatment is effective for bleaching the teeth and rejuvenating your smile. It is considered illegal for anyone who isn’t a dentist to offer dental whitening.
Reduce your snacks
Tooth decay is triggered majorly by regular snacking, says some studies. Eating snacks all the time exposes your teeth to acids. Yes, the saliva may cleanse the teeth and lower the acid effect, but consistent snacking can crush the saliva effect and trigger cavities and decay.
Use mouthwash carefully
Don’t say because you use mouthwash, there is no need to brush or floss anymore. This chemical solution is not effective against plaque. Mouthwash should be used after lunch – when there’s less need for brushing. And use a non-alcoholic fluoride mouthwash.
Don’t use mouthwash right after brushing – it will take out all the high amount of fluoride deposited by your toothpaste. Watch the kind of mouthwash you use, as there are brands that can’t last long and will stain your teeth. Read and follow the instructions on the container always.
Go for an electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush has more brushing power than a manual toothbrush, especially a sonic toothbrush. With an electric toothbrush, the number of strokes per minute can go from 2,500 to 7,000. However, a sonic toothbrush offers about 30,000 strokes in 60 seconds.
An inbuilt timer is designed into a good electric toothbrush to provide the perfect timing and pressure for teeth brushing. Look for an electric toothbrush with these features if you love the efficacy. With a manual toothbrush, the chances are that you may apply too much or too little pressure when brushing your teeth. While excessive toothbrush pressure can recede the gums, less pressure will not effectively remove bacteria.
Keep sensitive teeth safe
Teeth sensitivity can be caused by several factors: fillings, receding gums, teeth grinding, and abrasion. Consult your dentist to know the cause of your teeth sensitivity if you’re experiencing it.
Those with sensitive teeth should not brush their gumline roughly as it can expose the dentine – an action that triggers sensitivity. Avoid quick fixes for teeth sensitivity. Rather, go for specially formulated toothpaste for sensitive teeth as they are more effective in use overtime.
Be careful with your diet
The sugar in food triggers plaque, which in turn produces acids that erode the enamel and lead to decay. Consider sugar-coated foods as a treat that should be eaten immediately after meals to keep tooth decay at bay. Sticky foods are also not good for dental health as they provide an environment for bacteria to grow.
So much sugar is present in dried fruits though they are a healthy snack. Do well to reach the packaging label. Fizzy drinks can erode your tooth enamel; watch out for these as well. If you chew gums after eating, it will produce more saliva in your mouth. Saliva is an important fluid for tooth hardening and remineralisation.
What to do?
Want to enjoy a healthy mouth free from decay, cavities and gum disease? You should learn to take good care of your teeth and gums. The preceding oral hygiene guide can help you get a headstart to achieving great oral health. Need more help? Contact a dental hygienist in your area or book an appointment with us.
