Tooth brushing is the best way to maintain dental hygiene and avoid oral problems. We explain how to brush your teeth correctly in this post.
1) Why is tooth brushing important?
Tooth brushing helps to reduce the incidence of cavities, prevent periodontal disease, avoid halitosis, and prevent or reduce plaque and tartar. Ultimately, this helps to have clean teeth. It is recommended to do it after each meal for about three minutes, start with flossing, have a good technique, use a medium-hard brush and little toothpaste, do it also through the tongue and finish by rinsing thoroughly.
2) What is the correct technique for brushing your teeth?
It is important to find a way to get everywhere well. We show you one of the most effective brushing techniques in this video.
2a) Modified Bass - Another good tooth brushing technique
Many dentists agree that Modified Bass is the best technique for washing your mouth. This consists of placing the brush at an inclination of 45º with respect to the tooth, pressing slightly towards the gum. Then small vibratory movements are made allowing the bristles of the brush to act on the gingival sulcus and moving later towards the crown of the tooth. In the chewing part of the molars, horizontal movements are made to remove the remains of the occlusal surfaces.
2b) How many times a day do you have to brush them?
Brushing your teeth after every meal is ideal. The most important thing is to do it before sleeping, since at night the bacteria have more hours and better conditions to work. We produce less saliva when sleeping, a fundamental substance in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease.
2c) Do I have to wait some time between eating and brushing?
It is advisable to wait 20 or 30 minutes after meals, especially when we have taken something acidic. Consuming these types of foods weakens the enamel during this time, so brushing your teeth can be counterproductive.
2d) How long should tooth brushing last?
Most dentists recommend brushing for two to three minutes. Once finished, it is necessary to rinse with water or with specific rinses depending on the needs of each one and the recommendations of your dentist.
2e) Do you also have to brush your tongue?
The tongue is the part of the mouth that accumulates the most bacteria, so it is important to keep it sanitized. To wash the tongue correctly, you can use a specific device or the toothbrush itself, making movements from back to front. Some brushes have the part behind the bristles designed for this use.
3) More information about the toothbrush
We are going to delve into the toothbrush once the doubts about the technique have been clarified.
3a) What type of toothbrush is recommended to use?
It is essential to use medium hardness brushes, NEVER hard. These could cause enamel damage, gum damage, or even gum recession. For this same reason, avoid exerting too much force while brushing. Soft brushes are only recommended after gum or implant surgeries, when the wound has not yet fully healed.
3b) Electric or the manual toothbrush - Which is better?
Many of our patients ask about the use of the electric toothbrush versus the manual. And although technology can help in this task, both are just as effective when used correctly.
3c) How often should the toothbrush be changed?
It is advisable to change the toothbrush every three months, or even before if you have been sick or the bristles are damaged. You are probably applying excessive pressure during tooth brushing if the bristles become deformed in a short time.
3d) I'm traveling and I don't have a toothbrush, what can I do?
If you are away from home, you have forgotten your toothbrush and you cannot get any, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with water several times after meals or before sleeping. You will remove some of the food debris that may be in the oral cavity in this way.
4) Information about toothpaste
Toothpaste is an extra element in dental hygiene, although the most important thing is brushing.
4a) What kind of toothpaste do I have to use?
It is recommended to use toothpaste with fluoride, something essential to prevent cavities. If you have any type of oral disease, your dentist will determine if you need to use a more suitable type of paste for your situation: sensitive gums, yellow teeth, etc. Always make sure that the type you use is not harmful to the enamel. It is also possible to wash your teeth with natural elements such as coconut oil, essential oils, etc.
4b) How much toothpaste should be put on the toothbrush?
Very little toothpaste must be put in to brush your teeth properly; the size of a pea is enough. If you wet the brush once the toothpaste is ready, use little water and avoid spilling it.
5) Other essential tools for brushing
There are other elements that can help us to maximize our dental hygiene, although in many cases cleaning is reduced to the use of the brush.
5a) Dental floss
Using dental floss before brushing is ESSENTIAL to achieve a good level of oral hygiene. This serves to eliminate the remains of food and bacteria that may accumulate between the teeth. The use of dental floss prevents the appearance of interproximal cavities and helps keep our gums healthy.
5b) The tongue scraper or cleaner
The tongue is the part of the mouth that accumulates the most bacteria, so it is essential to keep it sanitized as we mentioned. Although the same toothbrush can be used for this, tongue scrapers are devices specifically designed to remove bacteria, plaque and food debris that remain deposited in this organ.
5c) The oral irrigator
The oral irrigator is a device that emits water under pressure and is used to remove food debris, plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums. Using it has its complexity, but it is one of the best ways to keep your mouth clean.
5d) Interdental or interproximal brushes
These types of brushes are designed to enter the space between the teeth. They have different sizes depending on the needs of each person and are especially suitable for those with bone loss due to periodontal disease and for wearers of fixed orthodontics such as brackets or microscrews.
6) The mouthwash
The mouthwash can be a good ally in oral hygiene as long as it has certain characteristics. Our mouth is not only made up of teeth, gums and tongue, but there are other areas that we can only access by rinsing, even with water.
6a) What mouthwash should we use?
It is possible to find a wide variety of mouthwashes in any pharmacy or supermarket, so it is important to know which is the best option for each case:
- Cosmetic mouthwash does not solve the problem of bad breath, but only masks it for a few hours.
- Antibacterial mouthwash does kill bacteria, so it can attack one of the main causes of bad breath.
- The antiseptic mouthwash eliminates bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses, but excess alcohol can cause irritation.
- Anticaries mouthwash usually contains fluoride for this reason, although some are very ineffective.
- The mouthwash for sensitive teeth and gums has low alcohol content and is indicated for all types of gum diseases.
- The children's mouthwash contains very little alcohol, fluoride and usually has flavors to facilitate its use among the little ones.
- The rinse with chlorhexidine can be prescribed by your dentist for specific cases of inflammation or localized infections or for after some type of surgical intervention in the mouth.
7) Regular visits to the dentist are also necessary
Visiting the dentist regularly is essential for your oral health even if you have exquisite dental hygiene. There you can prevent and control the development of cavities and other oral diseases. In addition, it is essential to have a professional cleaning every so often, the best way to keep tartar under control and avoid the development of gum disease.
