The Smile Concept
Aesthetic Medicine
Tooth Brushing Advice
Use a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is added to toothpaste because it helps strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to cavities. It also reduces the amount of acid that bacteria on your teeth produce.
Use a soft or medium toothbrush with a small head that can reach the spaces in the back of your mouth.
Brush for two minutes, twice a day. Divide your mouth into sections: upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left; brush each section for 30 seconds.
Use a timer to get an idea of how two minutes feel.
Use the correct technique. Angle the brush at a 45-degree angle against the gumline and brush using small circles. This method is the gentlest and most effective way to remove dental plaque!
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
Use dental floss and/or interdental brushes to clean between the spaces between your teeth, as each space may vary in size.
Replace your toothbrush every three months or after you have had a cold, virus, or infection.
Consider an electric toothbrush, as it may clean better, especially if you have difficulty brushing or dexterity issues.
Establish a good toothbrushing routine with children as early as possible.
Tooth Brushing Mistakes
Do not brush too hard. Use a soft toothbrush and brush gently. If you are using an electric toothbrush, you only need to guide the brush instead of applying pressure. Overbrushing or brushing too hard will wear down the enamel of your teeth and damage your gums, which can cause sensitivity.
Avoid brushing back and forth, as this can scrape the gums.
Do not forget to brush your back teeth.
Do not rinse after brushing. Just spit out the toothpaste and allow the fluoride in the toothpaste to remain on your teeth.
Do not brush immediately after eating; wait at least 30 minutes. Acids in foods can soften the enamel, so brushing too soon will damage the enamel. After eating, you should rinse away any food residue with a glass of water or chew sugar-free gum.
Never share a toothbrush with anyone, not even with a family member. Bacteria and infections could be transmitted through a toothbrush.
The Benefits of Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in many foods and water. In dentistry, healthcare professionals use fluoride to strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of cavities.
What does fluoride do? Every day, the enamel of your teeth (the outer protective layer) gains and loses minerals. You lose minerals when acids, formed from bacteria, plaque, and sugars in your mouth, attack your enamel (this process is called demineralization). You gain minerals, such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate, when you consume foods and water containing these minerals (this process is called remineralization).
Dental cavities result from excessive demineralization without enough remineralization.
Dental fluoride helps prevent dental cavities by making your enamel more resistant to acid attacks. It can also reverse cavities in their early stages.