Improving your oral hygiene goes hand-in-hand with a healthy mouth.
Small changes in your oral care routine can improve your dental health.
Follow these dental tips to keep your oral care routine at peak performance.
● Clean in between the teeth as recommended by your dentist either with a floss or interdental brushes or both followed by a rinse to get rid of any food debris.
● Clean your tongue twice per day with a tongue scraper and rinse prior to brushing.
● Brush your teeth twice per day for 2 minutes, once in the morning and once at night.
● Use a pea sized fluoride toothpaste and evenly spread the toothpaste on all the teeth surfaces and then start to brush.
● Angle the toothbrush at 45 degrees to the gum line so toothbrush bristles can reach the gums and clean effectively.
● Brush one tooth at a time with an electric toothbrush covering all the surfaces of each tooth.
● Use a small gentle circular motion with a manual toothbrush.
● After 2 minutes of brushing, spit out the toothpaste and avoid
rinsing so that Fluoride can stay around the teeth for some time to
help in caries/cavity prevention.
● Do not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth.
● Change your manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3-4 months, as the fibres become frayed or broken down. A worn-out toothbrush can damage your teeth and gums as well as not effectively clean them.
● To clean your toothbrush thoroughly, rinse it under running water. You can also absorb it in antibacterial mouthwash for a couple of moments to eliminate any waiting microbes. On the other hand, you can use an UV toothbrush sanitizer that uses UV light to kill microbes on your toothbrush. Leave it to air dry.
● Visit your dentist regularly for a checkup and a clean.
● Consider dental sealants to reduce the risk of caries/cavities.
● Avoid smoking/vaping and other tobacco products.
● Avoid frequent acidic food/drinks as this can erode the enamel away, which can lead to sensitivity issues and loss of tooth structure and height of the teeth.
● Avoid brushing straight after a meal, especially breakfast, we come across many patients who brush their teeth after breakfast, this can lead to wear of the teeth protective layer and cause long term damage to the teeth.
● Avoid sweeping and scrubbing motion with the toothbrush.
HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH BRACES
When you wear braces, it is easier to miss buildup on your teeth. To decrease the likelihood that plaque and food particles will have a chance to linger long enough to cause problems, make it a point to brush your teeth after every meal and rinse well after every snack.
● Swish a little water around the interior of your mouth before you start brushing, this can loosen food particles and other debris, making it easier to remove them. Then, take out any elastics, bands, or removable orthodontic pieces and set them in a safe place.
● Clean around the brackets with a small ortho brush, this would be recommended by your treating orthodontist.
● After rinsing your toothbrush and topping it with a small amount of Fluoride toothpaste, it’s time to brush. Start by holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and gently brushing along the gum line. Next, shift the angle of the toothbrush so that you can carefully brush the tops of your brackets. Then, reposition the toothbrush to angle up so that you can brush under the brackets and wire. Be sure to clean each tooth. Then, brush the chewing and inner surfaces of your teeth.
● When you have braces, it is vital that you take your time and thoroughly brush all the necessary surfaces of your braces and teeth. You should spend a minimum of two minutes actively brushing your teeth, but it may take you longer, especially when you are first getting in the habit of brushing with braces. If you’re having trouble reaching all the surfaces of your teeth due to the wires and
brackets, you can get an orthodontic brush to reach these tricky areas.
Things you should never do to your teeth.
● Use them as tools! Do not open bottle lids or cut any items with your teeth.
● Chew ice or crunch hard food like sugar candies.
● Bite your fingernails.
● Ignore pain or sensitivity.
● Brush too soon after a meal.
● Use charcoal or other abrasive toothpastes.
● Play extreme sports without a mouthguard.
● Consciously grind or clench your teeth/jaw.
● Sucking on cough drops.
● Eating/snacking frequently.
● Lip, tongue and frenum piercings.
