Most dental treatment can be avoided with proper care that takes less than five minutes a day in total. The secret is not expensive products but technique and routine.
Why does oral health matter so much?
The mouth is where the digestive system begins. All food is taken in through the mouth and prepared for digestion with the help of the teeth. Missing or painful teeth directly affect chewing, and so nutrition and digestion.
Oral health also shapes speech, appearance and self-confidence. And gum disease is known to be linked with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In short, a healthy mouth is part of general health.
How should you brush?
- Choose the right brushUse a small-headed brush with soft or medium bristles. A hard brush does not clean better; it wears the enamel and gums.
- Hold the brush at 45 degreesAim the bristles at the line where tooth meets gum. That is where most plaque collects.
- Use small, gentle movementsRather than scrubbing back and forth with pressure, work with small circular or sweeping movements.
- Brush every surfaceOuter surfaces, inner surfaces and chewing surfaces. The inner side of the lower front teeth is the place most often missed.
- Take two minutesTwice a day, after breakfast and before bed. The night-time brushing is the most important.
- Clean your tongue tooThe layer of bacteria on the tongue is the main source of bad breath.
After brushing, spit out the foam but do not rinse with lots of water. The fluoride left on the teeth keeps protecting the enamel.
Floss and interdental brushes
A brush only reaches about two-thirds of the tooth surfaces. The surfaces where teeth face each other cannot be cleaned with a brush, and that is where most decay and gum disease begin. Floss once a day, ideally at night before brushing. If you have gaps between your teeth, a bridge, an implant or braces, an interdental brush is more effective.
Which toothpaste, which brush?
- Use a fluoride toothpaste. For adults, pastes with 1450 ppm fluoride are suitable.
- For children under three a smear the size of a grain of rice is enough; from 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount.
- Used properly, electric brushes remove plaque a little better than manual brushing; they are especially helpful for people with limited dexterity.
- Change your brush every three months or when the bristles splay.
The role of diet
What harms teeth most is not the amount of sugar but how often you have it. After every sugary snack the mouth stays acidic for about half an hour. Having sugary and acidic foods and drinks with main meals and drinking water in between protects the teeth. Do not brush straight after an acidic drink; wait at least half an hour so you do not wear away softened enamel.
When should you see a dentist?
A check-up every six months is recommended even if you have no complaints. At a check-up, early decay and gum problems are caught before they hurt, and treatment is shorter and easier. Do not wait for your check-up if you have bleeding gums, lasting sensitivity, bad breath or a mouth ulcer that has lasted more than two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Should I brush before or after breakfast?
Either is fine; what matters is brushing regularly. If you have acidic things such as orange juice at breakfast, wait half an hour before brushing, or brush before breakfast.
Does flossing create gaps between the teeth?
No. Used correctly, floss does not open up gaps. Bleeding in the first few days is a sign of gum inflammation and reduces within a week or two of regular use.
Is chewing gum good for teeth?
Sugar-free gum increases saliva flow and helps neutralise acid. It is useful after a meal when you cannot brush, but it does not replace brushing.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If you have a complaint, please see your dentist.