About Dental Basics
Thanks to fluoridated water and toothpastes, better nutrition and improved dental care, teeth are healthier than ever. But, that does not mean that you can neglect your teeth. Tooth decay is still the number one cause of all tooth loss, and, gum disease is also responsible for most teeth loss in adults 35 and above. The best way to prevent these and other problems is to master the basics of daily dental care, especially the proper ways of brushing and flossing. -
Brushing
Brushing removes food particles and plaque from your teeth, making them look clean and freshen your breath. Brush at least twice a day with floridated toothpaste. Use a brush with soft rounded bristles and replace it every three months. Follow these steps to clean all surfaces:
- To clean the outer surface, tilt the brush so that its bristles point towards the gum-line. Use gentle side-to-side strokes, moving across your teeth in a circular motion.
- To clean the biting surfaces of the molars, hold the brush flat. Gently scrub your teeth by moving the brush back and forth.
- To clean the inner surfaces of your back teeth, hold the brush horizontally and use the same gentle back-and -forth strokes.
- To clean the inner surfaces of your front teeth, hold the brush vertically and use gentle up-and down strokes
Flossing
Brushing does most of the work of cleaning your teeth, but it cannot reach plaque and food particles between the teeth and under the gum-line. Daily flossing will keep plaque from building up in these hard-to-reach areas.
There are two types of floss – waxed and un-waxed. Use whichever you like. To make sure that you floss all your teeth, start behind the upper and lower molars from one side of your mouth and work towards the other side. Follow these steps: -
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around your middle finger. Hold it as shown.
- Slide the floss between the teeth using a gentle sawing motion until it reaches the gum-line. Curve the floss around the tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and tooth.
- Scrape the sides of the tooth by moving the floss away from your gums. Unwind clean floss as you work.
Follow these simple methods and your teeth will always remain clean and healthy.
Frequency and Time of Brushing & Flossing
Brushing and flossing after breakfast and after dinner is essential and unescapable necessity. However, brushing after every meal is a good habit.
Any toothpaste that can generate a good amount of foam is preferred.
