Having a healthy set of teeth can take a lifetime to achieve. Even when other people tell you that you have nice teeth, it is still of utmost importance to take the right steps every day to avoid dental and oral hygiene problems.
A lot of these involve using the right oral care products, being mindful of what we put in our mouth and our daily habits, as well as getting regular cleanings from a dental professional.
You see, there are billions of bacteria living in our mouth at any given time. These bacteria are the leading causes of plaque, tooth decay, and gingivitis.
Our mouth is basically home to entire communities of these bacteria and lives by recycling what’s left of what we eat and what we drink.
By feeding off sugars in our food and drink, these bacteria leave behind a waste product in the form of a biofilm known as dental plaque.
Dental plaque allows these bacteria to hold on to your teeth a little longer, and eventually, they will produce acids that will erode the enamel of our teeth and cause dental cavities.
The bacteria on the plaque also produce harmful toxins that enter the gums which cause gingivitis.
If left unchecked, gingivitis might progress and become periodontitis, a more serious condition where there are bone and tissue loss around the teeth.
Oral health is just as important as other aspects of our general well-being, so we should not forget to take care of our teeth.
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There are many preventative measures to prevent teeth and gum disease. If you want to have shiny white teeth, make sure you take the necessary steps to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
A beautiful smile with a set of well-maintained teeth projects an image of confidence and boosts self-esteem.
Don’t take that smile for granted, unless you don’t want a complete set of teeth!
One way to help keep your gums and teeth healthy is with a proper brushing and flossing technique.
It is important to keep these activities as part of your daily habit to reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay, which are what usually cause tooth loss.
Brushing Your Teeth for a Healthy Smile
Brushing your teeth with toothpaste is the most basic step in keeping our teeth healthy. Using the correct toothpaste and brushing action helps remove plaque that causes cavities and gum disease.
Most toothpaste contains fluoride which makes our teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. It also promotes tooth remineralization which helps in repairing the teeth before the damage can be seen.
Plus, toothpaste contains special ingredients which help remove stains over time which makes our teeth whiter.
These special ingredients keep our breath fresh and leave you with a clean feeling in your mouth. This should be done at least two to three times a day.
Please take note that while there are multiple brushing techniques using a regular toothbrush, it is important to always visit your dental care professional for a proper recommendation on technique and oral care products.
Also, make sure to comply with any of their instructions to avoid unnecessary problems. Make sure to use fluoridated toothpaste and change your toothbrush every 3 months.
You only need to spend two minutes at minimum when brushing your teeth.
This includes at least 30 seconds of brushing on every section in your mouth – upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right, twice a day (day and night time).
If you are using a manual toothbrush, a timer near you would be very helpful in keeping track of how many seconds you spend on brushing each region of your mouth.
When choosing a brush, always look for the ADA seal. This means that the oral care product is certified safe and effective to use by the American Dental Association and any claims of the product have been reviewed for truthfulness.
Proper Positioning of Your Toothbrush
The positioning of your toothbrush or how you hold it will depend on which region of your mouth you are trying to clean.
These five steps will ensure you maximize efficiency with the proper use of the toothbrushing technique.
Steps to the Correct Way of Brushing Your Teeth
1.) Begin with the outer surface of your teeth by brushing at a 45-degree angle in brisk and short strokes against the gum line. Try to clean as much of the outer surfaces of your back teeth as well, using the same short and brisk motion of the wrist. Do not use wide and strong strokes as you may injure your gums and erode the enamel of your teeth.
2.) Proceed to brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Utilize the same short and brisk motion when brushing back and forth along these areas. Always remember to clean as much of your back teeth as possible and keep in mind that you should not to do any strong and wide strokes to avoid injury and enamel erosion.
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3.) Move into the inner surfaces of your teeth. Use the same short and brisk brushing technique. For the brushing, the inner surfaces of your front teeth, use a gentle up and down motion while tilting the toothbrush vertically.
4.) Make sure you brush along the gum line to make sure you get rid of any food particles that may cause bad breath.
5.) Cleaning your tongue is just as important as brushing your teeth. The surface of our tongue is covered with papillae, also known as taste buds.
There are tiny grooves within these taste buds which collect bacteria, food particles, and even dead skin cells. Bacteria and other debris cause white discoloration on the tongue which leads to bad breath or halitosis.
These bacteria can also be redeposited to the teeth. You can clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper which you can buy cheaply at any drug store. Do this as often as you brush your teeth.
Use a motion that sweeps from back to front, and make sure you cover the top surface of the tongue. Always remember to be gentle to avoid injury.
Flossing Regularly to Boost Your Oral Health
Brushing alone does not remove bad-breath and tooth decay-causing food particles entirely. There are some places between your teeth where the bristles of your toothbrush are hard to reach.
This is where flossing comes in. Flossing cleans those hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth, where food particles can get stuck and bacteria commonly build up.
Cleaning the spaces between the teeth also prevents gum diseases like gingivitis.
Flossing once a day is an ideal habit and it prevents food particles stuck between your teeth to harden and form into dental plaque which only a dental care professional can remove.
Before choosing a dental floss, always look for the ADA seal.
Steps to the Correct Way of Flossing Your Teeth
Follow the following steps when flossing your teeth:
1.) Snap at least 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind each end of the floss on the index fingers of both hands. Make sure they are tightly secured and will not slip. Grip each wound end tightly with both index fingers and thumbs of both hands.
2.) Gently guide the floss between the space of each teeth. Do not attempt to instantly jam the floss into your gums or it will bleed. When you reach the gum line, position the floss around the tooth making a C shape.
3.) Take it one tooth at a time. There is no need to rush when flossing your teeth. Once you are done with the previous gap, utilizing a gentle motion and forming a C-shape with the floss, repeat the same procedure on the next. The floss may break down after certain usage so break off another length of floss from the dispenser if needed.
4.) Do not forget to floss the backsides of your back teeth on both lower and upper teeth. These are the places where a toothbrush cannot reach but flossing can clean this area with minimal effort.
Maintaining a set of healthy white teeth may take a lifetime, so be sure to use proper brushing and flossing technique as part of your daily oral care habit to lower the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.
You can also go the extra mile by supplementing your daily oral care habit by using mouthwash.
Brushing and flossing are reliable ways to clean your teeth but mouthwash can go into deeper places that a brush or dental floss cannot reach.
Careful consideration must be observed when choosing the type of mouthwash to use, as alcohol-based mouthwashes can sometimes irritate and dry your mouth.
We hope that these tips will give you an idea on how to take care of your teeth and maintain that beautiful smile.
However, these are not substituted for expert professional advice. Always seek the opinion of a dentist or other qualified healthcare professional and remember to always look for the ADA seal of approval on any oral care product.
At Advanced Dental Group of Edge water, we have a team that’s always ready to assist you. Contact us today to get the best smile you deserve.
I am an SEO specialist and content writer by profession who loves to write about health especially dentistry.