Brushing one's teeth is one of the basics of personal hygiene, so we already teach babies how to brush baby teeth. Until children are motorically capable and mature, adults should supervise them daily. Are we as individuals successful enough in brushing our teeth? Are our knowledge, skills and consistency sufficient to maintain good oral health - both ours and our children's?
All different, but with the same goal
It is difficult to generalize, but based on my daily practice, I can say that most patients have problems. However motivated and exemplary patients are not always without plaque. Why is that? Where do we make mistakes? Every patient is unique; has its own dental status, shape of teeth, inaccessible or hard-to-reach areas, motor capabilities, systemic condition, lifestyle and eating habits. Therefore, it is most important to discuss this with your chosen dentist, who will help you to have healthy teeth and gums.
It doesn't matter what we choose when it comes to oral health care
Since conscientious cleaning is only one aspect, we must not forget that the oral hygiene aids that the individual uses on a daily basis are also important. Store shelves offer a wide range of products, but it doesn't matter what we choose. The most important accessory is a toothbrush, which should have straight, dense, soft bristles, and the handle should be comfortable to hold. However, since a toothbrush can at best only clean about 70 percent of the surface of the teeth and gums, it is necessary to take care of the remaining 30 percent, which is hidden between the teeth and is most effectively cleaned with interdental brushes.
The perfect choice for healthy teeth and gums
When choosing an interdental brush, in addition to its properties, such as very soft, long fibers and a thin, flexible, durable wire core, it is also important choosing the appropriate size. An interdental brush that is too small will not fill the entire interdental space and therefore will not be effective, and an interdental brush that is too large can damage the periodontal tissues. It should also be taken into account that the gums are often inflamed and swollen at the beginning of use, so a smaller size will be a better choice. But when the gums heal, the spaces between the teeth are bigger, which means that we have to reach for a bigger interdental brush. The ideal solution for these doubts is a color probe, which is always good to have with you. In places where we cannot use even the smallest interdental brush, we can reach for the floss. I advise this especially for fixed dental appliances, implants and prosthetic bridges. But it is important correct use, because doing it incorrectly can do more harm than good.
A welcome extra (after) power
Taking care of oral health should not end with the teeth and gums. Let's not forget the language, which is best cleaned with scraper. Thus, we eliminate a common cause of bad breath. Patients also often ask us about choosing the right toothpaste, and I think they pay too much attention to this. If we do not know how to brush our teeth effectively without toothpaste, we are also unsuccessful with it. The main criterion when choosing should be its composition - the absence of foaming agents, abrasives and other harmful agents and the content of ingredients that support the natural protective role of saliva. When it comes to quantity, less is more. It is completely enough to squeeze it out for a pea size.
The most common mistakes when brushing your teeth
Most often, we make mistakes in the technique of brushing our teeth. Right-handed people usually start brushing their teeth on the top left and continue towards the top right. Then they move the toothbrush to the lower left quadrant and end up in the lower right. Consequences? On the upper left, the teeth are brushed too hard, because the hand is at rest, we use (too) strong force and the consequences are mechanical damage to the gums, exposed tooth necks and tooth sensitivity. On the right side of the lower jaw, the teeth are often not brushed at all; the hand is already tired, we are more superficial, and the result is dental plaque, inflamed gums and caries. There is a solution simple. Consciously change the quadrants or the beginnings of the toothbrush journey.
Let's summarize the steps that lead to good oral health:
1. Regular check-ups at the dentist.
2. Correct choice of oral appliances.
3. Proper tooth brushing technique.
In addition to thorough daily mechanical cleaning of dental plaque, which ensures that we keep our teeth and healthy dental tissues even in old age, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are also important.
She wrote:
Alenka Seljak, Ph.D. dent. honey
Self-pay dental clinic ORIDENT
