Once we do something day by day, it is easy to stop enthusiastic about it How we do it. But for some things, like our every day dental care, how we do it’s just as vital as doing it consistently.
On this post, we’ll go over the correct brushing and flossing technique, compare dental cleansing products, and explain what else you would like to remember to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
How and when to floss, brush and rinse your teeth
Step 1. Thread thoroughly
While you could not all the time prefer it, flossing really helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. Flossing removes plaque and debris from places your toothbrush cannot reach, so make certain to floss before brushing.
Normally, flossing once a day is enough, but if you happen to do it very gently, you possibly can do it twice a day. If flossing hurts, you could be flossing too hard. To string properly:
- Wrap an 18-inch piece of floss around each of your middle fingers until there’s one or two inches left in the center for flossing.
- Hold each end of this middle section with your thumbs and forefingers to keep it taut.
- Gently run the floss between the teeth and for every tooth, pull it in order that it curves at the perimeters. Move it up and down a number of times on each tooth before moving on to the subsequent area, ensuring it’s below the gumline.
- Use a latest piece of floss for every tooth.
In the event you are unsure if you happen to are flossing appropriately, ask your dental hygienist for a reminder at your next check-up.
Kinds of dental floss
You’ve got several options when it comes to flossing. The 2 major kinds of dental floss are nylon and monofilament. Each will do the job, but monofilament floss is a bit dearer since it is stronger and easier to pass between the teeth.
As well as to traditional dental floss, there are alternative dental floss that will be used to clean interdental spaces. But standard dental floss is simplest when used appropriately.
Regardless of what form of floss you select, all the time search for products with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. The ADA seal implies that the product has been found to be secure and effective.
Alternatives to flossing include:
- Dental cubes – Disposable dental toothpicks often seem like toothpicks with a small length of dental floss on one end. Their design could make them easier to move around within the mouth than regular dental floss.
- Interdental brushes – These brushes are in the shape of bristles embedded around a bit of plastic or wire. They will be used to brush between your teeth and are especially useful if you may have braces (comparable to fixed retainers) in your mouth that interfere with flossing.
- Water irrigators – Because the name suggests, the water irrigator cleans the spaces between the teeth with a small stream of water.
Step 2. Brush your teeth with a toothbrush really helpful by dentists
You’ve got probably heard the overall rule of how often you need to brush your teeth: twice a day. This is an element of the official ADA recommendations, together with using fluoride toothpaste. After all, you possibly can brush more often, e.g. after meals. But brushing at the least twice a day is only one part of excellent brushing.
How long do you have to brush your teeth?
It’s endorsed to brush your teeth for about 2 minutes twice a day.
How do you have to brush your teeth?
One of the crucial vital parts of brushing technique is pressure. In truth, it doesn’t take much force to remove plaque from your teeth. But brushing too hard can wear away the protective enamel and irritate your gums. To get an idea of how hard you need to brush, try brushing your teeth with only your thumb and forefinger holding the toothbrush.
The movements of the toothbrush also matter. For the back and front surfaces of the teeth, brushing with a toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line with small vertical strokes is the gentlest on the gums and enamel. Small, circular movements are also good. Avoid brushing directly to the perimeters, brush every surface and remember the tongue.
What bristles should your toothbrush have?
The ADA recommends using toothbrushes with soft bristles. In addition they recommend changing your toothbrush every three months when the bristles fray or after an illness.
Are electric toothbrushes higher than manual toothbrushes?
You possibly can clean your teeth well with each a daily toothbrush and an electrical toothbrush. Many electric toothbrushes use soft bristles, circular motions, and adjustable pressure. This implies you haven’t got to give attention to technique as much as with a daily toothbrush, but you continue to need to be thorough and remember to charge it. This can be a compromise you possibly can make based on your preference or the dentist’s advice.
Step 3. Rinse (but not straight away)
Lots of us are used to rinsing the mouth right after brushing. Nevertheless, it’s best to avoid rinsing your mouth immediately, even with mouthwash. That is because if you happen to use a fluoride toothpaste, as really helpful by the ADA, a mouthwash can wash off the fluoride layer that builds up on your teeth while you brush.
Leaving your mouth unrinsed for 10-20 minutes after brushing means you might be getting the total protective advantages that fluoride can provide. But you possibly can still spit out extra toothpaste.
Extra step: If you may have an appointment, go for a dental checkup
With the suitable equipment and technique, you possibly can do a extremely good job of keeping your teeth clean. But irrespective of how well you clean your teeth, regular dental check-ups are still just as vital as brushing and flossing. This will not be only a possibility for the dentist to detect the signs of dental problems early – it is usually a possibility for you to improve your technique.
After examining your teeth, your dentist can inform you if you happen to’re missing certain areas, if you happen to should brush more gently, if certain kinds of brushes or flossing tools are best for you, and more. They will answer all your dental care questions.