Brushing
Tooth brushing is one of the most important aspects of good oral hygiene. Others include flossing, diet, visiting the dentist regularly, etc. Many
people question their dentist as to which brand or type of brush is the
best to use. Many have personal preferences, however, what is agreed on
most, is that a soft brush is best. Medium or hard can cause damage and
wear to the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, as well as unnecessary
wear to the tooth outer surface called enamel. Brushes should be replaced
often, usually after three to four months or after a bad cold or flu. Ideally, one should brush after each meal, but at least mornings and before
bedtime should be made part of one's normal routine.
Other common questions are what types of bristles should a toothbrush
have. The answer again depends on personal preference, however, studies
have found that synthetic bristles are best due to their ability not to
split as often as natural bristles. This splitting of the bristle ends
can cause severe gum irritations and eventually recession of the gums
and tooth sensitivity. If one uses a synthetic soft bristled toothbrush
that is replaced often, it will not cause this irritation.
Sequence of Brushing
Each person has their own method of brushing, however, an easy technique
is to divide the mouth into six sections. Depending if one is right or
left handed, you can choose which side to start on in the upper arch. Assuming you start on the upper right, start brushing the posterior four
teeth. Place the toothbrush slightly on the gums or gingivae at a 45 degree
angle and partly on the tooth. Gently brush back and forth. After brushing
in this fashion, move the brush further down away from the gums and onto
the rest of the teeth. Go further anteriorly until you reach the next
one third. You should now be on the anterior six teeth.
Repeat the procedure. Move on to the four back left teeth, repeating
the back and forth motions. Once completed, brush the left four posterior
teeth, on the biting or occlusal surfaces. Roll to the inside tongue or
lingual side of the teeth. Again, place the brush at a 45 degree angle
on the gums and tooth. Follow this procedure now going from left to anterior
to right upper back teeth. This is now repeated by dropping down to the
lower teeth. Follow the same instructions.
Flossing
Flossing the teeth is a very important adjunct to tooth brushing for
good oral hygiene. Studies have even demonstrated that those who floss
regularly have a decrease in periodontal disease, bad breath, and cavity
incidence. Unfortunately, many people do not floss, and so the increase
in periodontal disease is seen. Flossing, as many people believe, is not
used to remove food particles only. It is used to remove plaque under
the gums, which is the invisible film of bacteria that constantly forms
on teeth. Floss allows one to go in between the teeth, and scrape the
surfaces clear of this plaque and bacteria.
Technique
A 12 to 18 inch piece of floss should be used first. By placing a few
inches around the middle fingers on either hand, and then using the thumbs
for control, one places the floss in between teeth. Again, you can divide
the mouth into sections. The important thing to remember is that you should
get sufficient pressure to get in between the teeth. Pressure should be
placed on either side of the teeth once the floss is in correct position. One must get under the gumline to loosen the debris, plaque, and bacteria. This area is called the sulcus. A good way to remember how long to stay
in this area and clean, is to count the up and down strokes on each tooth. Eight to ten strokes on each surface should be quite sufficient. The amount
of time might seem excessive, but the rewards are great for your dental
health.
Questions arise on how often one should floss? The answer is that, to
be effective, one should floss each day. What kind of floss is best? There
are many flosses to choose from on the market. Each one works. Personal
preference is up to the patient. Thickness, waxed or unwaxed, etc. are
for the difficult spaces that exist in teeth. Flavored, non-flavored flosses
are available, again it is personal preference of the patient. The main
thing to remember is to floss on a regular basis to maintain good oral
health. What if one finds it difficult using floss due to dexterity problems
or a handicap? There are commercial devices that can aid one in overcoming
these problems. Recently, a company has developed an electric motor type
flossing device.
Tongue Scraping & Bad Breath
Ninety percent of bad breath is caused by bacteria, and dead cells on
the back of the tongue. The best way to remove odor is to remove build-up
on tongue. Tongue scrapers were developed to remove these dead cells and
bacteria.
Things one can do to prevent bad breath:
- Brushing and flossing regularly, including tongue surface, decreases
bad breath.
- Fibrous vegetables, such as celery sticks and carrots, aid in keeping
the tongue surface clean.
- Foods rich in proteins can cause bad breath. Dairy products, meats,
fish etc. , cause this by breaking down the bacteria on the tongue. The
proteins, in turn, cause sulfur to form which causes bad breath.
- Keep mouth moist. Saliva flow keeps tongue surface clean.
- If odor is noticed. more from the nose, respiratory infection may
be the culprit. See your physician.
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