ORAL HYGIENE AIDS: TOOTH BRUSHING

Brushing your teeth is one of the most effective ways of removing plaque from the exposed surfaces of your teeth.

Brushing Techniques:

Since there are various techniques for brushing your teeth, it’s a good idea to ask your dentist which one to use.

Here are a few tips to help you develop a good brushing routine:

• Brush twice a day
• Use a fluoride containing toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay
• Place your brush at a slight angle toward the gums when brushing along the gumline
• Use a gentle touch – it doesn’t take much pressure to remove the plaque from your teeth and a vigorous scrubbing could irritate your gums
• Concentrate on cleaning all the surfaces of the teeth
• Brushing your tongue gently can help remove bacteria that cause bad breath

Selection of your toothbrush:

Proper toothbrush care is important to your oral health because a worn toothbrush is less effective in cleaning. Contrary to what you might think, a gentle brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush is just as effective (and less damaging!) than a vigorous scrubbing with a stiff-bristled toothbrush. Your enamel is relatively thin and years of aggressive brushing can begin to wear away the enamel and make the teeth sensitive.

Brushing too hard can also damage your gums. The important thing to remember is that an effective brushing cleans every exposed tooth surface in a gentle, massaging motion.

Generally, you would think that you brush for 1-2 minutes but it is just about 30 seconds one brushes for. Time yourself once. One should ideally take about 2-3 minutes to brush.

It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed. Children's toothbrushes often need to be replaced more frequently.

The mouth harbours hundreds of different types of micro-organisms (germs), some of which are transferred to a toothbrush during use. Micro-organisms in the environment also may become established on stored toothbrush. Although studies have shown that various micro-organisms can grow on toothbrushes after use, evidence is lacking that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific health problems.

There is no clinical evidence that soaking a toothbrush in an antibacterial mouthrinse or using a commercially available toothbrush sanitizer has any positive or negative affect on health.

Here are some common sense things you can do:

Don't share toothbrushes;

Thoroughly rinse the toothbrush with tap water after use to remove and toothpaste and debris

Store the toothbrush in an upright position if possible and allow it to air dry - when storing more than one brush, keep them separated so that germs are not transferred from one brush to another.

Don't routinely cover or store toothbrushes in closed containers. A moist environment helps the growth of most germs.

The Importance of Flossing and other Interdental Aids:

Cleaning between your teeth is every bit as important as brushing. This should be done at least once a day.

Since brushing can’t effectively clean between teeth, it’s important to use floss to get to those areas. As with brushing, use a gentle touch to avoid injuring your gum tissue.

Other items also are available to help you clean between your teeth as per the spaces between your teeth. Ask your dentist to guide you in selection of the best interdental aid for you.

• Interdental brushes are cone shaped or cylindrical brushes made of bristles mounted on a handle. Multi-tufted and single tufted brushes are available. These are usually required when the spaces between teeth are large, irregular and concave.
• Wooden or rubber tips.
• Triangular tooth picks.

Other Home Care Products:

When you come for checkup at the clinic, your dentist may also prescribe some mouthwashes or an ointment to be massaged onto your gums. These are essential means of treating and preventing periodontal diseases.