A mega-watt smile can help you land a job, the man or just give you a real confidence boost.
Yet many of us don’t give our teeth the attention they deserve and thereby unknowingly cause irreparable damage to them.
Dr Sarah Flannery from Dublin’s Seapoint Clinic has revealed her top tips for how to brush your teeth like a dentist.
Don’t brush up and down
1. Always brush the top and bottom teeth separately – (lots of people bite their teeth together and give a good scrub – not advisable!)
2. Start on the lower at the back on the outside at the check. Angle the tooth-brush into the junction where the tooth comes out of the gum. Take two teeth at a time, and count to ten on each two, doing little circular movements.
3. Once the outside on the lower is done, come back around on the inside, again concentrating on where the tooth comes out of the gum.
4. Then brush the biting surfaces of the lower teeth
5. Repeat for the upper teeth.
Time yourself
Brushing should take about 2-3 minutes. This can seem like a very long time, so it is important to time yourself to see how long you are spending on your brushing.
Invest in an electric toothbrush
When you brush with a manual toothbrush you make about 300 strokes per minute. Electric brushes rotate 3,000 to 7,500 times a minute while Sonic brushes make 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute.
A Cochrane study has shown that while both manual and power brushes offer about the same level of effectiveness, sonic brushes result in fewer bouts of gingivitis (inflammation of the gum/mild gum disease and often leads to periodontal disease). An electric toothbrush is a must for someone with gum disease.
While an electric toothbrush can be a great motivational tool for children, it can also be very helpful for the elderly or anyone with manual dexterity difficulties.
Chew sugar-free gum between meals
When it comes to chewing gum, it is the type of gum that matters. Chewing sugar-free gum has a cleansing effect on the moth by stimulating salivary flow which can neutralize acids released by the bacteria in plaque which is harmful to teeth.
Chewing gum which has been sweetened by Xylitol has the extra benefit of inhibiting the bacteria Streptococcus mutants which is the main bacteria that causes cavities. When Xylitol is present, the bacteria lose the ability to adhere to the tooth surface.
It is advisable to note that if you have problems with your jaw joint (TMJ-Temporal Mandibular Joint), or have grinding habits, it may not be advisable to chew gum. Chewing can put extra strain on the joint which may increase the existing discomfort.
Regular cleans means whiter teeth
Teeth can discolor overt time from tea, coffee, and other products with a deep colour. The staining occurs in between the prisms which make up the enamel, causing the tooth to appear darker or more yellow.
There are two ways to influence the colour of the teeth – chemical or mechanical action. Chemical involves bleaching the teeth with either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide which can be done at the dental clinic.
Mechanical whitening involves using products which can mechanically remove the stains on the teeth. Although some whitening toothpastes can be good for reducing stains, the best solution is to attend a dental hygienist for regular cleanings to remove the stains on your teeth.
Before bed is best
The most important time of the day for brushing is before bed. At night time, our salivary flow rate greatly reduces, which is needed to buffer any acids produces by the bacteria that cause decay. It is also advisable to brush after your breakfast in the morning.
Brush your tongue and don’t forget to floss
Flossing cleans out any bacteria that is in between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. It is advisable to floss every day.
You should finish your brushing routine by brushing your tongue. The tongue is a great habitat for bacteria and should be cleaned daily.
Don’t scrub too hard
Scrubbing the teeth and gums can cause irreversible damage. The delicate area where the tooth comes out of the gum is a very thin layer of tissue and if you are using a brush that is too hard, you can cause irreversible damage to this area.
A soft brush should always be used with gentle circular motions.
Too young to brush on their own?
A child does not have the manual dexterity to carry out thorough brushing until they are about 8 years old.
Parents should help children until this age. It is a good idea to teach them how to brush, let them do it themselves, and then finish the brushing off for them by going over any areas they may have missed.
When it ditch your brush
The bristles should be straight on your toothbrush. Once they start to go out of shape, it is time to change your brush. A soft brush is always advisable.
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