6 Tips to Keeping Your Teeth Healthy
Good oral hygiene does not only
equate to good oral health. It can also add up to your total
well-being. Most people don’t know that the condition of the tissues
and structures of the mouth can actually affect the general physical
condition of the body.
Since your oral health can affect
almost all aspects of your life – from your ability to chew and
speak, your appearance, and even your personal relations with others
-- it is important that you keep your teeth clean and healthy.
In this article, you will learn what
steps to take to maintain oral health and keep your teeth clean,
from the right way of brushing, to flossing, and even to choosing
dental products to use.
TIP #1: How to Brush Your Teeth
Did you know that there is a right
way of brushing your teeth?
We do it everyday so we don’t think
about it too much. For most of us, it has become a part of daily
routine – a mechanical act. But this seemingly mechanical act is the
most important step in keeping your teeth clean and healthy. That is
why it is very important that you learn how to do it properly.
The American Dental Association
(ADA), the premier group in the United States dedicated to promoting
oral health, suggests the following method of brushing your teeth:
-
Position the head of the
toothbrush against your teeth. The tips of the bristle must be
so angled that it touches the gum line at a 45-degree angle.
-
Move the brush in a gentle,
circular scrubbing motion. First, brush the outer surfaces of
each tooth, upper and lower. Be sure to keep the bristles angled
against the gum line.
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Use the same motion to brush the
inside surfaces of the teeth.
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The chewing surfaces of all teeth
should be thoroughly scrubbed. But remember that only the tips
of the bristles of the toothbrush can clean the teeth, so use
only light pressure. That way, the bristles do not bend and can
better clean your teeth.
-
When cleaning, let the bristles
of the toothbrush reach into the grooves of the teeth. In order
to get to the harder-to-reach portion of your teeth, change the
position of the toothbrush. In fact, this is highly recommended.
-
Clean the inside of the front
teeth. Do this by tilting the brush vertically and making gentle
up and down strokes with the front part of the brush over the
teeth and gum tissue of the upper and lower jaws.
-
Finally, brush the tongue. This
will help refresh the breath and remove bacteria.
TIP #2: How to Choose Your
Toothbrush
The right kind of toothbrush is also
another important aspect of oral health, although probably not as
important as properly using that toothbrush to clean the
teeth. Still, there are many kinds of toothbrush available and you
might need some help picking which one to use.
When you go to the drugstore or any
store that sells toothbrush, you will probably come across
toothbrushes of every imaginable variety. They can range from
tapered heads, boxy heads, angled heads, neon handles, handles with
bending rubber, handles with your kid’s favorite cartoon character,
bendable tips – the list goes on.
If you take all that hype out of the
picture, where does that leave you? That should be the question to
keep in mind when selecting a toothbrush.
First of all, a brush with a soft,
end-rounded or polished bristle is what you should look for. Why?
Because toothbrushes like this are less likely to injure gum
tissues.
Your gums are made of soft tissues so
they are highly sensitive. More so if you have recently gone through
a teeth whitening procedure, administered by your dentist.
Toothbrushes with hard bristles could
irritate your gums, causing infection. They may even cause abrasion
to the teeth. Avoid this by using brushes with soft bristles.
Also, if you notice that the bristles
of your brush have become splayed or matted, then it means it’s time
for you to replace it with a new one. At the first sign of splaying
or matting of the bristles, always get a new brush.
As for storage, any place will do so
long as the place is dry and uncovered. Let the bristles dry in open
air.
**A NOTE ABOUT ELECTRIC
BRUSHES: Some people, especially
children and those with disabilities, prefer to use electric
brushes. In some instances, electric brushes can even clean better
than manual brushes.
You may elect to buy an electric
toothbrush to use. If you are not entirely sure, ask your dentist
which type of toothbrush will clean your teeth more effectively.
TIP #3: How to Floss Your Teeth
Food and plaque can end up stuck
between your teeth or under your gum line. When they do, mere
brushing will not be able to remove them.
The bristles of your toothbrush are
simply not equipped to handle areas like that between your teeth and
under your gum line. For that, you need dental floss.
Now, just as there is a proper way of
brushing your teeth there is also a proper way of flossing.
If you ask your dentist or hygienist,
they would be more than happy to show you the basic flossing
techniques. But to make things more convenient for you, use the
technique we provide below:
-
First, cut off about 18 inches of
dental floss. Wrap one end of it lightly around the middle
finger of one hand and wrap the other end around the middle
finger of your other hand.
-
Next, firmly grasp the dental
floss with your index fingers. This is how you can adjust the
length of floss you’ll be using and adjust its tautness.
-
With your index fingers, form the
floss into a C-shape and then carefully slide it up and down
between your tooth and gum line. The motion can be described as
the same one that a saw makes. Do it gently, making sure that
the floss does not snap into your gums.
-
To scrape the side of the tooth
(another area that a toothbrush simply cannot clean), hold the
floss tightly against the tooth. Then, gently move it up and
down away and toward the gum.
-
To repeat the motions for other
teeth, wind the floss around the middle finger. That way, you
will be using a fresh section of the floss and thereby, reducing
the spread of bacteria, which inevitably happens if you don’t
use a fresh portion.
Bacteria in the mouth can lead to
gingivitis, or what is more commonly known as “gum infection.”
-
Finally, don’t forget to floss
the back of your four rear teeth.
TIP #4: How to Choose Dental Floss
When it comes to selecting
dental floss, you have several choices. But it all boils down to –
what works best for you?
First thing’s first: choose whether
you want waxed or unwaxed dental floss. (There is also flavored or
unflavored dental floss but that hardly warrants a lengthy
discussion since the focus here is more on the oral health aspect of
dental floss than personal quirks. If you prefer flavored floss,
then by all means, get one.)
At some level, even the choice
between waxed and unwaxed dental floss is a matter of personal
preference. However, note that waxed floss is sturdier and slides
more easily between the teeth.
Still, all types of floss clean well.
Choose one that most easily fits in between your teeth. Also, make
sure that the floss is easy for you to hold.
There are some waxed flosses that
come with disposable plastic handles. This could be a good choice
for you, especially if you have limited finger dexterity.
When choosing floss that works best
for you, note the following characteristics of floss types and what
they mean for your oral health:
-
Woven floss is soft and gentle.
Best for sensitive gums.
-
Waxed floss usually slides easier
between teeth. If you have tight teeth or tight fillings, then
this is a good choice.
-
Gortex or Teflon floss is super
slick. Best if you have very tight teeth.
-
Wide floss or dental tape works
well if you have a lot of bridgework.
-
Use a floss threader (this is a
pointed plastic loop) to help get floss underneath a bridge.
**A NOTE ABOUT FLOSSING:
You may experience some bleeding at first. But this only occurs in
the beginning and is not usually an indication that you ought to
change floss brands or stop flossing all together. At most, ask your
dentist about it.
TIP#5: How to Buy Dental Products
By “dental products” we do not
include toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss, for obvious
reasons. Instead, what we mean by dental products are those of the
teeth whitening variety that contains solutions and certain acids
that may be harmful if misused.
Even though some of them may have
high solution content, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)
does not categorize dental products as drugs and so does not
regulate them. The only group that sets some guidelines to help
standardize dental products is the American Dental Association
(ADA).
Dental products that passed ADA’s
strict, and often expensive, approval process receives the “Seal of
Acceptance.” If you are very particular about the effectiveness of
your dental products, then be sure to buy only those with the ADA
seal.
However, note that only a few
manufacturers opt to seek ADA approval for their products.
Sometimes, you may even notice your own dentist using dental
products that do not have the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance. That’s
because even though some dental products do not have the seal, they
use equivalent formulation.
**A NOTE ABOUT MOUTHWASH:
They only generally remove bad breath on a temporary basis. Some
mouthwash products do contain anti-bacterial solutions that help
reduce plaque levels. Fluoride mouthwashes help prevent tooth decay.
TIP #6: How to Prevent Decay
through Nutrition
When the mouth is acidic, that is the
time when tooth decay occurs. The acid levels of your mouth increase
if you eat a lot of starchy or sugary foods. By avoiding foods like
this, you can prevent decay.
Avoid foods like:
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Candy, cookies, cake, pie
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Soda pop and other sugary liquids
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Crackers, breadsticks, and chips
-
Dried fruits, especially raisins
which are not only sweet but also stick to your teeth and gums
Instead, eat foods like:
-
Fresh fruit in moderation
And those are the six tips to keep
your teeth healthy and clean. Practicing good oral hygiene is a must
if you want to improve oral health. However, eating a healthy diet
serves as the cornerstone of dental health. Only by doing both do
you get the best results.
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