What makes a good dental hygiene routine?

It is an often repeated cornerstone of dental advice that a good dental hygiene routine and regular check-ups with the dentist will help to keep teeth in good condition.

While Bhandal’s dentists have the check-ups in hand, what exactly is a good dental hygiene routine and do you really need to invest in electric toothbrushes, mouth wash and floss?

Always brush twice a day

The very best start to maintaining good dental health is to brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day – once in the morning and once before going to bed.

Remembering to brush your teeth before going to bed is of the utmost importance as it removes plaque and food debris that has built up over the day. If you don’t get rid of this by brushing before bedtime it will continue to attack your teeth for the next eight hours – or however long you are asleep.

Timing is one thing, technique is another. Using gentle, circular motions take care to brush the front, top and back surfaces of every tooth with the bristles at a 45-degree angle to ensure the best results.

After brushing spit the toothpaste out but do not rinse the mouth as that removes the fluoride left behind to protect the teeth.

Use fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is the most important factor to consider when choosing toothpaste. Adults should use a toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500ppm fluoride, children over the age of six 1,000ppm or above, and children under three at least 1,000ppm.

Choose the right toothbrush

Changing your toothbrush often is an important part of brushing as if the bristles become splayed they can no longer do their job properly. Most brushes or electric toothbrush heads need changing every two to three months.

When choosing a toothbrush it is important that it is one you can use easily and that can reach all those tricky parts of the mouth, including behind the back teeth.

Electric toothbrushes are very popular as they make it easier to give a powerful clean to teeth while their smaller heads have good reach.

Do I need to floss?

Flossing once a day is ideal to remove stubborn food caught between teeth and also to reach inaccessible areas. This is important in the fight to prevent gum disease.

Once a day is enough and for people who find flossing difficult interdental brushes are a good alternative. It is recommended that children introduce flossing from the age of 12.

Should I use mouthwash?

Mouthwash is a personal preference. It can help to clean parts of the mouth that are difficult to reach and can help to remedy bad breath. However, it is worth considering the underlying cause of bad breath as this could be a more serious problem. Also, do not rinse straight after brushing your teeth as it washes away the fluoride.

Chew sugar-free chewing gum after meals

This is actually a good practice. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals will not only collect tiny debris particles of food but it will leave you with fresh breath after eating, which can only be a good thing!

Avoid sugary food and drinks

We know that you can’t avoid them all the time but if you can restrict yourself as much as possible, you will cut down on decay and dental bills!

Be aware of your mouth

Don’t ignore problems that happen in your mouth. If you have ulcers that won’t go away, or lumps appear or your gums feel constantly sore and sensitive, we urge you to visit your dentist so that the problem can be quickly diagnosed and dealt with.

The best advice to protect those pearly whites remains: brush twice a day, every day. No excuses!

Should you have any concerns about your dental health please get in touch with Bhandal Dental Surgery.