- How to brush your teeth properly
- How to brush your teeth with orthodontic appliance
- How To Maintain Toothbrush Hygiene
- When to go to the dentist
To avoid the development of cavities and plaque on the teeth it is essential to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day, one of which should always be before sleeping, as during the night there is a greater chance of bacteria accumulating in the mouth.
For tooth brushing to be effective, fluoride paste must be used since the birth of the first teeth and maintained throughout life, to keep teeth strong and resistant, preventing the development of cavities and other oral diseases such as caries and gingivitis, that cause pain and difficulty eating, for example.
How to brush your teeth properly
To keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy:
- Put toothpaste on the brush, which can be manual or electric; Touch the brush bristles in the region between the gum and the teeth, making circular or vertical movements, from the gum outwards, and repeating the movement about 10 times, every 2 teeth. This procedure should also be done on the inside of the teeth, and, to clean the top of them, a back and forth movement must be made. Brush your tongue making movements back and forth; Spit out excess toothpaste;
Rinsing a little mouthwash to finish, like Cepacol or Listerine, for example, to disinfect your mouth and eliminate bad breath, can be a good habit to maintain good oral hygiene.
The toothpaste must contain fluoride in its composition, in quantities between 1000 and 1500 ppm, information that is registered on the label of the packaging of the toothpaste, with the name sodium fluoride and can be purchased at the supermarket, drugstore or pharmacy, no needing to be a specific or expensive brand.
The ideal amount of paste to use is about 1 cm for adults, and that corresponds to the size of the little finger nail or the size of a pea, in the case of children. See more tips on choosing the best toothpaste for adults and children.
To prevent the development of cavities, in addition to brushing your teeth properly it is important to avoid eating foods high in sugar, especially before going to sleep. However, other foods can also damage the teeth causing sensitivity and stains, such as coffee or acidic fruits, for example.
In addition, it is also important to drink water throughout the day to keep saliva in your mouth which helps to eliminate bacteria naturally and avoid smoking. To avoid the appearance of cavities, know more foods that harm your teeth.
How to brush your teeth with orthodontic appliance
To brush your teeth with an orthodontic appliance, you should use a regular brush, and start with circular movements between the gum and the top of the brackets, with the brush at 45º, removing dirt and plaque that may be in this region.
Then, the movement must be repeated at the bottom of the brackets, also with the brush at 45º, also removing the plate in this place. Then, the procedure on the inside and top of the teeth is the same as explained in the step-by-step.
The interdental brush can be used to reach places that are difficult to access and to clean the sides of the brackets, as it has a thinner tip with bristles and, therefore, it is very useful for those who use braces or for those with prostheses.
If you have to brush your family's teeth or dentures, watch the video:
How To Maintain Toothbrush Hygiene
To maintain the hygiene of the toothbrush, it should not be shared with others to reduce the risk of developing cavities and other infections in the mouth, and should be kept in a dry place, with the bristles facing upwards protected with a lid.
The toothbrush can be manual or electric and must have thin, soft bristles so as not to hurt the gums and cause bleeding.
When the brush bristles start to become crooked, you should replace the brush with a new one, which usually occurs every 3 months. It is also very important to change your toothbrush after a cold or flu to reduce the risk of getting a new infection.
When to go to the dentist
To keep your mouth healthy and free of cavities, you should go to the dentist at least twice a year a year to assess the mouth and detect dental problems early, or as instructed by your dentist.
In addition, other symptoms that indicate the need to go to the doctor include bleeding and pain in the gums, constant bad breath, stains on the teeth that do not come out with brushing or even sensitivity on the teeth and gums when eating cold, hot or hard foods.
Cavities are the main cause of pain and inflammation, so see what to do in case of toothache.
