Nothing is more crucial to excellent oral health than brushing and flossing. While visiting a dental office twice a year for a checkup and cleaning are also important, a home care regimen can get rid of plaque and associated bacteria before it becomes tartar that must be removed by a dentist’s tools. Good home care makes every dental visit easier and quicker and prevents gum disease, among other things.
Specifically, good brushing and flossing can help you in the following important ways:
Preventing decay. One major cause of tooth loss is decay from plaque and bacteria buildup. Plaque has acids in it that eat away at tooth enamel. Once a tooth is damaged, you can experience a toothache, which may be hard to treat and expensive as well.
Preventing disease. Left untreated, gum disease gets worse and worse over time, causing gum recession, jawbone erosion and tooth loss. Bacteria from plaque can enter the bloodstream through diseased gums and cause health issues throughout the body, including heart disease and stroke. Good home oral hygiene keeps gums healthy to prevents these issues.
Preventing bad breath. Most halitosis is from left-behind food particles and the rotting of teeth and gums that they cause. Regular at-home oral care gets rid of these bacteria so your mouth is healthier and smells that way too.
Preventing staining. Everyday foods and drinks can cause staining – including coffee, tea and cola. But brushing and flossing can remove staining from food from your teeth before it have time to cause discoloration.
How To Brush Your Teeth Effectively
Teeth need to be brushed twice a day to stay clean. Some people brush after every meal, but at a minimum, you should brush each morning and before bed each night. Skip hard-bristled brushes and use a soft brush that’s gentle for your gums. The toothbrush head should be small enough to reach everywhere in your mouth. And you should replace the brush at least every 3 months or so.
If you aren’t getting your teeth clean enough with a regular toothbrush, an electric toothbrush may be the answer. In fact, the San Diego Dentist Association as well as the American Dental Association have determined that the oscillating, rotating heads of an electric toothbrush clean better than a manual toothbrush.
To brush effectively, follow these steps:
- Hold the brush against the teeth near the gumline at a 45-degree angle most of the time.
- Brush all teeth, especially paying attention to the area near the gumline, where you should brush in small circles.
- Keep it gentle – because excess pressure can brush away tooth enamel over time and injury your gums.
- Remember to brush your tongue and the insides of your cheeks as well as all teeth (especially back teeth) to get rid of plaque, food particles and bacteria.
- Brush biting and chewing surfaces with back and forth motions to get into grooves.
How To Floss Your Teeth Effectively
Brushing can’t help you with plaque and particles below the gumline or between teeth. Flossing takes care of these things that a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing can also help with preventing and minimizing gum pockets that are part of periodontal disease. All types and flavors of floss work about the same.
To floss effectively, follow these steps:
- Use about 18 inches of any kind of dental floss.
- Wrap ends around your middle fingers, leaving a gap between your hands of about 2 inches to work with.
- Guide your flossing with your thumbs and forefingers as you go between all teeth.
- Pull the floss into a c-shape around every tooth as you slip the floss below the gum line.
- Move the floss in an up and down motion to remove caught plaque and debris.
- Remove floss carefully to avoid damaging your gums.
If you would like a professional to clean your teeth, examine your mouth and teach you to brush and floss better, reach out to an SDDA dentist now.