What is a healthy and beautiful smile? This is usually what someone asks when they’re concerned with their own health and beauty, or when it comes to a dentist’s work. That being said, the oral cavity needs to be cared for from childhood onwards. So, how do you care for your teeth?
Dental Care Rules
1. Brush your teeth correctly. You need to brush your teeth at least two times a day, morning and evening before bedtime. You can brush your teeth both before meals and after. If you brush your teeth before eating, do it 15 minutes before so you don’t spoil the taste with toothpaste, and after breakfast, rinse your mouth with water. You can add half a teaspoon of soda to the water or replace the water with a mouthwash.
If, instead, you want to brush your teeth after eating, that’s more than fine. You can skip a post-meal mouth rinse as you are sure to remove the leftover food remnants. Either way, choose the method that works best for you. It doesn’t matter when you brush your teeth. What matters is HOW you do it.
2. Use dental floss. There is a vast selection of dental flosses: round and flat, super-flavored, flavored, fluorine-coated, etc. If you’re stuck, a dentist can help you choose one. Floss once a day before bedtime, combined with subsequent brushing. Make sure you’re moving the thread along the axis of the tooth.
3. The right toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with artificial bristle fibers. The head of the toothbrush should be about 2-2.5 teeth long in size. Ask a dentist about the hardness of the bristles, otherwise it’s best to choose one of medium-hardness.
4. Correct toothpaste. There are many kinds of toothpaste, and each has its function: preventive, containing therapeutic additives, bleaching, etc. Only a dentist can tell you what you need. However, the method of toothbrushing is far more important. You cannot carry out your toothpaste’s purpose if you don’t brush properly.
Remember that the commercially available toothpaste provides your teeth with a maximum of 30% calcium and fluoride. It is necessary to supplement this calcium and fluoride from foods containing these same components (milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, cheese, green tea, legumes, parsley, dill, cilantro).
5. Teeth brushing time. The average brushing time is 2-3 minutes. To clean the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth, follow the “red to white” rule, i.e., the direction of movement of the toothbrush should come from the gums to the top of the tooth. You can keep the remnants of food and bacteria from getting into the gum pockets by following this method, while preventing the development of putrefactive and inflammatory processes at the same time.
6. Cleaning the soft tissues of the oral cavity. Cleaning the inner surface of the cheeks and tongue is an essential factor that eliminates microorganisms. If the toothbrush has the additional function of cleaning soft tissues on the back, then the surface of the cheeks is automatically cleaned during brushing.
Then, you can clean the surface of the tongue more intently. The tongue can be cleaned with a toothbrush or tongue scraper. It is essential to know that if there is a plaque on the tongue, “bald patches” or other changes, cleaning the tongue should be postponed, and the dentist should see it.
7. The use of rinsing agents. There are a variety of different rinses, so which one do you need? Your dentist can help you figure this out. If your dentist is unavailable, however, choose a preventive rinse. Rinses contain active substances in liquid form, which can easily penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity (between the teeth, at the junction of the teeth and gums, etc.), kill bacteria, and wash away plaque – the leading cause of dental diseases (caries) and gums (gingivitis).
Use it before cleaning the oral cavity and after. The conditioner used before cleaning helps to soften plaque on the teeth, or after cleaning to catch any spots you missed.
Recommendations
1. Chewing gum. Why chew gum? It can also be used for oral care. Of course, it’s better to chew gum without sugar. Chewing gum removes soft plaque and food debris; it helps to enhance saliva, which further softens plaque and promotes the release of lysozyme (an antibacterial agent).
However, chewing gum for longer than seven minutes is not worth it! Seven minutes is more than enough to do the job and freshen your breath.
2. Solid objects. Do not use your teeth to open beer caps, crack nuts, bite a fishing line, etc. – this can only lead to tooth injury (cracks, chips).
3. Rinse your mouth with sugary drinks. Do not rinse your mouth with sugary beverages – this only contributes to the formation of caries. Also, do not rinse your mouth with coffee and alcohol. Coffee tends to stain teeth and fillings in a darker color. Alcohol tends to dry the mucous membrane, which can lead to pathological changes in the mucosa.
4. The combination of food temperatures. Do not combine hot and cold foods in one go. This leads to the formation of microcracks of enamel and the formation of caries.
5. Only one brush. You cannot use one toothbrush for multiple family members. The microflora of the oral cavity in each person is different, and the transmission of cross-infection through the brush to another person can lead to adverse consequences. It is especially dangerous if the owner of the brush has a significant health problem (hepatitis, AIDS, syphilis, etc.).
6. Bad breath. If you are worried about bad breath, but the oral cavity is in order, then you need to check the gastrointestinal tract, ENT organs, or lungs. Raw fruits and vegetables can help you get rid of the smell. First, fresh fruits and vegetables contribute to the mechanical cleaning of teeth, tongue, and oral cavity. Secondly, they ensure the maintenance of an acidic environment in the oral cavity, which prevents the growth of putrefactive bacteria. Thirdly, these products contain natural antibiotics – phytoncides, which restore the normal microflora of the oral cavity.
7. Frequency of visits to the dentist. Examination by a dentist is necessary once every six months.
8. Bad habits. Limit your smoke habits, or quit if it’s possible. The components present in tobacco smoke tend to degrade the color of the teeth, and the harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke cause vasoconstriction and, as a rule, disrupt blood circulation in the smoker’s mouth. Besides, harmful toxins are present in tobacco smoke, which suppresses the immune system, which leads to the development of destructive and putrefactive bacteria. As a result, infectious and inflammatory processes could occur in the oral cavity.
Here at Oakvillage Dental, we treat you like we would treat our own family. We strive to make your dental experience comfortable and stress-free. Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.