If we all took care of our oral hygiene there would be no need for the dentist, or almost. Undergoing periodic checkups is in fact a very important rule. In this way the dentist can judge the state of dental health by blocking the slightest hint of tooth decay in the bud.
Today we have many means to take care of our teeth. Traditional toothbrushes, with special or electric bristles, toothpastes and mouthwashes are just some of the commonly used tools that you can easily find at the pharmacy or supermarket.
Toothbrush, which one to choose?
There is a vast range of toothbrushes on the market, so wide that it often leads to consumer disorientation.
First of all, the choice of the bristles must fall on the artificial ones. The natural ones in fact have jagged points that risk irritating and injuring the gums. They also tend to retain bacteria in them.
Among all toothbrushes with artificial bristles it is good to choose those with heads formed by distinct tufts and with rounded tips that can reach the depths of the interdental spaces. The diameter of the synthetic fibers is normally between 0.20 and 0.25 mm (medium hardness).
It is advisable to periodically check the state of wear of the bristles. As soon as you notice bent and deformed tips, replace the toothbrush with a new one (at least one volt every two or three months).
Traditional toothbrush, how to use it?
Learning to use a toothbrush correctly helps to preserve a smile and a wallet.
The bad habit of brushing your teeth with a strong and vigorous horizontal movement is of little help in the fight against tooth decay. In this way the bacterial plaque is not completely removed but dragged from one tooth to another favoring its nesting in the interdental spaces. The accumulation of plaque in these areas, in addition to being difficult to remove, facilitates the onset of caries, tartar and gingivitis. A too energetic movement will then tend to push the plate against the gum facilitating its deposition in this area. Excessive mechanical stress on the collar can also cause major damage such as inflammation and gum recessions.
The correct method for cleaning teeth involves movements perpendicular to the gums, not too energetic and with the brush tilted 45 °. For the cleaning of the upper arch, it will therefore be necessary to proceed from top to bottom and vice versa.
When cleaning the teeth it is good to vary the angle so as to penetrate with the bristles even in the dental interstices and remove the plaque under the gingival collar.
The cleaning operation must be repeated without haste even for the internal part, often dangerously left out. Finally it is good to pass the toothbrush over the teeth, above all over the molars and premolars so as to remove the plaque present between the intercuspid spaces (that kind of hollow formed by the 4 tips of the tooth).
To be effective, these operations should not last less than 2 or 3 minutes and affect one tooth at a time without moving quickly from one tooth to another.
Electric toothbrush
Its winning weapons are ease of use and comfort. The high speed swinging movement ensures impeccable oral hygiene by removing bacterial plaque from teeth and gums. For those who do not have the manual skills necessary to clean their teeth thoroughly with a normal toothbrush, it can be a valid ally in the fight against tooth decay. Children can even find it fun and be encouraged to brush their teeth more often.
When you buy it it is important to choose it well, in general the most advertised brands have a good quality / price ratio.
We recommend the purchase of a rechargeable model with an ergonomic handle and head included in the package. As for normal toothbrushes, the head must be replaced every 2-3 months
Tongue cleaning
CLEANING THE LANGUAGE: cleaning the lingual back has the task of removing the microorganisms responsible for halitosis. It must be carried out with special instruments that can be temporarily replaced by the toothbrush. Thanks to the elimination of food and microbial residues, tongue sanitation can also prevent dental caries and gum disease.
The cleaning operation must be carried out in depth since it is the posterior areas of the lingual back that contain the greatest number of bacteria. However, it must be considered that a deep cleaning could cause a spontaneous rejection action.
Cleaning is carried out by protruding the tongue as far as possible from the mouth and inserting the tongue cleaner that is rubbed and slid backwards for about one minute very deeply.
The use of this practice is recommended above all for patients suffering from halitosis even if, given its importance, it should be included in the oral hygiene operations of the entire population.
Dental floss
To remove caries in depth and prevent the formation of tartar, a valid, often underestimated tool is dental floss.
Its constant use also removes the plaque that lurks in the interdental spaces. These areas, generally inaccessible to the traditional toothbrush, are an ideal refuge for bacteria responsible for caries and gum inflammation. Even if this tool still has to fit fully into the habits of Italians, its use is simpler than you might think and after a couple of applications you acquire the skill necessary to maneuver it correctly.
The dental floss should be inserted between two teeth, made to go down to the gum and pulled outwards making it adhere well to one of the two teeth. The rubbing operation will then be repeated for the other side of the tooth and for all remaining interstices. It is important to rinse the mouth thoroughly after cleaning, perhaps with mouthwash. In this way the plaque removed from the dental floss will be eliminated, which could otherwise deposit on the teeth again.
When passing from one interdental space to another it is good to rinse the length of wire used to remove any bacterial deposits.
CONTINUE: Second part - Oral hygiene and white teeth »
