BLOG Correct tooth brushing - Clínica Dental Nakeji

LEARN HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH CORRECTLY

Daily tooth brushing is essential for good oral health and disease prevention, but also for whiter teeth and to avoid bad breath.

Although we brush our teeth every day since childhood, we continue to make simple mistakes that do not allow us to effectively eliminate bacterial plaque. Now with the arrival of the holiday season, with its heavy meals and binge eating of sweets, we must pay special attention to our daily dental hygiene in order to avoid plaque buildup.

Why is good tooth brushing important?

Maintaining a good tooth brushing routine will effectively eliminate bacterial plaque, the great enemy of dental health. It is a layer formed by bacteria that adheres to the teeth and gums, causing cavities, gingivitis and subsequent periodontitis. If left untreated, its development can lead to tooth loss.

Dental plaque is often associated with tartar, since tartar is effectively calcified dental plaque. The problem lies in the fact that by the time tartar is palpable or visible, the accumulation of bacterial plaque is already well advanced, and even when we do not detect tartar on our teeth we may have a plaque problem.

Proper daily hygiene combined with regular professional dental hygiene makes all the difference. Follow these tips in your daily tooth brushing and in a few days you will notice a noticeable improvement in teeth and gums.

5 steps to good tooth brushing.

Uses the necessary tools
There is a wide variety of toothbrushes, manual and electric, and it is important to be using the best one for our needs. We recommend using an electric toothbrush, since thanks to the large number of movements of its filaments it manages to remove plaque more effectively. However, there is a huge variety, for example, a special brush with soft bristles when there is a problem of gingivitis, etc. In our clinic, a specialist in dental prevention will advise you on the brush that best suits your needs.
Dental floss or interproximal brush
Although most adults are aware of the need to brush their teeth, the use of dental floss or interproximal brushes is still a step that is not so well assimilated, and it is essential. Part of the bacterial plaque is trapped between the teeth, where the toothbrush cannot reach. This accumulation is what can generate caries in delicate areas. Also inflammation and bleeding of the gums, which can be symptoms of diseases such as gingivitis and subsequent periodontitis.
Therefore, our specialists in preventive dentistry recommend at least one interdental cleaning a day. In our dental clinic in Tijuana we will advise you on how to use dental floss and interproximal brushes, choosing the ones that best suit your spaces between teeth. Many patients notice a vast improvement in the color and appearance of their gums within a few days of practicing good interdental hygiene.
Brushing teeth as a habit after meals
Tooth brushing should be done three times a day, after every major meal. Sugars, acids and other food components stick to our teeth and create bacterial plaque. Efficient brushing for at least two minutes will remove these bacteria.
Situations such as dining out or eating at work often encourage us to forget to brush our teeth, but it is important to maintain the routine so that it becomes a habit.
Mouthwash isn't just for breath
It is a mistake to associate the use of mouthwash as a final step of brushing just to avoid bad breath or to get a fresh feeling in the mouth. The function of mouthwash is to attack plaque and weaken bacteria, so that it is easier to remove them with brushing. For this reason, our dental specialists recommend choosing a good mouthwash and even rinsing before brushing your teeth.
Special attention to the gums
It should not be forgotten that oral hygiene should be used throughout the mouth, beyond the teeth. Thus, it is recommended to dedicate a few seconds to gently brush the gums to remove the large amount of plaque that accumulates on the underside of the gums. Do not forget to brush the tongue and cheeks from back to front to remove bacteria from the entire oral cavity.

How to choose the most useful toothpaste for you?

Nowadays we can find all kinds of toothpastes, from traditional toothpastes against caries, to specific toothpastes for sensitivity, periodontal (gum) toothpastes or so-called whitening toothpastes.

The most common and widespread problem is tooth decay, so the main recommendations to have a cavity-free mouth are constant oral hygiene, use a toothpaste that carries an adequate amount of fluoride and make at least one annual visit to the dentist. It is also important not to forget that the mouth should not be rinsed with water after brushing with toothpaste, as this significantly limits the effect of the toothpaste. It is more advisable to spit out the paste.

Aloe Vera and Vitamins

A good toothpaste should also contain auxiliary ingredients that help in the maintenance of proper oral hygiene. The following are worth mentioning:

Aloe vera: relieves pain and irritation of mouth tissues.
Vitamin E: helps maintain healthy gums and accelerates their regeneration; reduces tissue swelling and the risk of bleeding.
Provitamin B5: protects the oral mucosa thanks to its healing action.
Vitamin A: has a bactericidal effect and promotes adequate saliva secretion.
Vitamin C: promotes proper development of teeth and enamel, also reduces gingival bleeding.

If in doubt about which toothpaste is right for you, we recommend asking your dentist for advice. Taking into account individual needs, he or she will recommend the right product.