By taking care of our oral hygiene we keep our smile bright, our teeth and mouth healthy, and our psychology and self-confidence at high levels.
The basis for good oral hygiene is a balanced diet that limits the consumption of foods and beverages with high sugar content and of course the correct brushing of the teeth and the use of dental floss or interdental brushes.
In this article, we will talk about brushing your teeth while in a future article we will go into the details of using dental floss and interdental brushes..
How often should you brush your teeth?
Probably the most common question regarding tooth brushing. Brushing in the morning and at night before bed is recommended, and it's even better if you can add a third time, maybe after your lunch. But 2 times daily (morning-evening) is considered necessary. Surely your dentist will be able to give you more advice based on your own needs.
In any case, you should carefully brush all the surfaces of the teeth (inside, outside, and the chewing surfaces) while something that we usually forget to do is the gentle brushing of the tongue.
What kind of toothpaste should you use?
A toothpaste with the right fluoride content is a valuable tool against tooth decay. Fluoride fights germs and protects teeth and regular use of fluoride toothpaste can reduce caries by more than 20 - 40%.
For adults, as well as for children over 6 years, a toothpaste with a fluoride content of at least 1350 parts per million (ppm) is recommended. For children from 3 to 6 years old, fluoride toothpaste with a content of at least 1000 ppm is recommended, while for younger ages there are special kinds of toothpaste with even lower content.
The information about the fluoride concentration in the toothpaste you have chosen is written on its package.
What should you look for when choosing a toothbrush?
Usually, for most adults, a toothbrush with a small head and a compact, angular arrangement of long and short hair with a round tip is fine. Also, medium or soft hair is best for most people.
If you want to use an electric toothbrush, one with a swinging or rotating head can work better than a manual toothbrush. At the same time, however, the use of an electric toothbrush requires care because many times the pressure we exert can be excessive. This pressure, combined with the high spinning of the toothbrush, may cause damage to your teeth.
A very important part of using a toothbrush is changing it (or changing the head if it is an electric one) every 3 to 4 months or when you notice damage to their hair. A worn toothbrush does not help clean your teeth properly.
Of course, proper and meticulous brushing of your teeth at least twice a day is more important than the type of brush you use. If in doubt, you can ask your dentist.
In closing, for a more complete protection, you can consider using mouthwash. The mouthwash cleanses areas that are difficult to reach by brushing and around the gums while there are special compositions for children. But keep in mind that using mouthwash immediately after brushing is likely to flush out the fluoride build-up in your teeth. So, it is recommended to choose a different time during the day, such as after a meal.