7 DENTIST-APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Clean & Correct Dentistry
- Sep 26, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 7, 2023
Written by : Dr Kriti Arora
TABLE OF CONTENTS :
Oral health plays a vital role in your overall well-being. Maintaining proper oral hygiene not only enhances your smile but also contributes to your overall health. In this guide, you'll find dentist-approved recommendations to incorporate into your daily routine, promoting a healthier life. These recommendations encompass effective oral care techniques, essential products, and mindful habits.
Before we begin, answer these questions below - (YES/NO)
A. Do you brush twice daily?
B. Do you rinse post meals?
C. Do you scrape your tongue often?
D. Have you used dental floss?
E. Do you drink an ample amount of water?
F. Is your diet healthy and balanced?
G. Do you visit your dentist for a check-up every 6 months or annually?
If most of your answers are NO, you need to know how these factors can drastically change your oral health.
BRUSH properly
The cornerstone of your oral hygiene regimen is proper tooth brushing. It combats plaque buildup, prevents tartar formation, and reduces the risk of oral diseases. (1) However, achieving a pristine and healthy mouth involves considering factors that can be game-changers.
Types of toothbrushes
The market offers a plethora of toothbrush options, often leaving consumers bewildered. Manual toothbrushes come in three types: soft, medium, and hard. (2) Always check labels while purchasing.
While medium brushes offer better plaque removal, they can also cause tooth abrasion and gum issues. (3)
Opt for a soft toothbrush for optimal performance, avoiding hard brushes.
Electric toothbrushes, gaining popularity, provide slightly better plaque removal than manual ones, elevating oral hygiene. (4).
The correct tooth brushing technique
Many tend to scrub teeth, which can lead to problems. Improper brushing with excessive pressure may cause receding gums and enamel erosion, resulting in sensitivity. (5)
The modified bass method is a universally suitable brushing technique. (6)
Frequency of tooth-brushing
Brushing frequently minimizes plaque accumulation, but excessive brushing can damage teeth. The norm is to brush twice daily, morning and night. (7)
Time spent on tooth-brushing
Most spend around 45 seconds brushing, yet experts recommend extending this to 2 minutes for more effective plaque removal. (8)
TOOTHPASTE
Toothpaste, in gel or paste form, enhances brushing efficacy. It cleans teeth through abrasives and freshens breath with added flavors. (9) While toothpaste now comes in varied colors for packaging, some promise teeth whitening or sensitivity prevention.
Whitening toothpaste lightens teeth and stains. Prolonged use may lead to teeth surface roughness. (10)
Desensitizing toothpaste gained popularity for mild cases of sensitivity but dental intervention remains ideal. There are various brands available that work by different mechanisms of action. (11)
Clean your TONGUE
Tongue coatings harbor bacteria, contributing to bad breath. Regular tongue cleaning with a scraper or toothbrush is crucial. A tongue scraper is more efficient due to reduced gag reflex. (12)
FLOSS like a BOSS
Flossing, coupled with brushing, removes plaque and trapped food, improving gum health and reducing bleeding and cavities. (13) Choose from:
A) Waxed Floss- nylon thread with wax coating.
B) Water Floss- ideal for braces, implants, and gum disease.(14)
C) Floss Picks - convenient disposable floss.
The MOUTHWASH
Mouthwash complements oral care, aiding those with limitations. It's not a toothbrush substitute but aids oral health. Dentists may prescribe it for infections, bad breath, or specific conditions. (15)
Avoid using mouthwash immediately after toothpaste. (16)
RINSE post meals
Rinsing with water after meals neutralizes mouth acidity, preventing dental caries. It also dislodges food stuck to teeth. (17)
NUTRITION AND ORAL HEALTH
Nutrition and oral health are intertwined. A healthy diet protects teeth, gums, and oral mucosa. Sugary foods elevate caries risk. Oral diseases can impact overall health; e.g., gum disease worsens diabetes or heart issues. (18)
Missing teeth affect nutrition; replacements aid eating and overall health.
Product Recommendations (click to buy)
Tongue Scraper
Mouthwash
TAKEAWAYS
Oral care isn't just about a pristine smile; it impacts overall well-being. Master the basics of oral care, including tools like toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and tongue scrapers. Dentist guidance elevates oral and overall health. Biannual dentist visits prevent diseases.
If you seek more insights or wish to schedule a dental appointment, contact us. text us here.
FAQs
1. When should I replace my toothbrush? Usually, the right time to replace a toothbrush is when the bristles show signs of spraying, bending, curling, or changing of color. A general recommendation is to change after every 3 months. (19) If your toothbrush is showing such signs in 2-3 weeks, that means you need to improve your toothbrushing habit. 2. How should I store my toothbrush? Toothbrushes can hold several microorganisms if not cleaned and stored properly. Firstly, they should be thoroughly rinsed after every use. Secondly, they should be kept at least 3 feet away from your toilet seat. Toothbrush caps also serve as a medium to grow bacteria so, make sure the toothbrush is left open to dry in the air. (20) 3. I brush twice daily, also clean my tongue and still I feel I have bad breath. What could be the reason? Your oral hygiene routine seems fantastic but there could be cavities or an impacted tooth that is harboring bad-breath-producing bacteria. (21) Though the most common cause of bad breath is plaque and calculus. Make sure you visit a dentist to get the underlying issue corrected. 4. Do I need to floss? Flossing between the teeth has numerous benefits in preventing oral diseases. It is commonly seen those elderly who at least floss once or more times a week have fewer chances to develop gum diseases, and dental caries and have their teeth intact for a longer period than their contemporaries who do not floss. (22) 5. Is brushing at night important? Brushing after meals is usually recommended to prevent food from getting stuck and subsequently, prevent the duration of sucrose in the mouth. (23) Night brushing becomes extremely important as in the absence of that, sucrose stays for a longer period in the mouth and gives the perfect environment for oral micro-bacteria to grow in number. 6. Is mouthwash better than brushing? Many popular types of mouthwashes do help in controlling plaque and calculus but they are always adjunct to your tooth-brushing, not an alternative. (24) They work best when they are used along with your routine tooth brushing.
Have more questions/doubts? If you want a personal consultation then you can book an appointment with one of the best dental clinics near you here.
References
1. Brantzaeg P. The significance of oral hygiene in the prevention of dental diseases. Odont T. 1964;72:460-486
2. Sasan, D., Thomas, B., Bhat, M.K., Aithal, K.S. and Ramesh, P.R., 2006. Toothbrush selection: A dilemma?. Indian Journal of Dental Research, 17(4), p.167.
3. Zanatta, F.B., Bergoli, A.D., Werle, S.B. and Antoniazzi, R.P., 2011. Biofilm removal and gingival abrasion with medium and soft toothbrushes. Oral Health Prev Dent, 9(2), pp.177-83.
4. Elkerbout, T.A., Slot, D.E., Rosema, N.M. and Van der Weijden, G.A., 2020. How effective is a powered toothbrush as compared to a manual toothbrush? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of single brushing exercises. International journal of dental hygiene, 18(1), pp.17-26.
5. Hargreaves KM, Cohen S. Cohen's pathways of the pulp. 10th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:510, 521.
6. Muller-Bolla, M. and Courson, F., 2013. Toothbrushing methods to use in children: a systematic review. Oral Health Prev Dent, 11(4), pp.341-7.
7. Ashley, P., 2001. Toothbrushing: why, when and how?. Dental update, 28(1), pp.36-40.
8. Gallagher, A., Sowinski, J., Bowman, J., Barrett, K., Lowe, S., Patel, K., Bosma, M.L. and Creeth, J.E., 2009. The effect of brushing time and dentifrice on dental plaque removal in vivo. American Dental Hygienists' Association, 83(3), pp.111-116.
9. Lippert, F., 2013. An introduction to toothpaste-its purpose, history and ingredients. In Toothpastes (Vol. 23, pp. 1-14). Karger Publishers.
10. Jamwal, Navodita, Ashwini Rao, Ramya Shenoy, Mithun Pai, K. S. Aparna, and B. R. Avinash. "Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis." F1000Research 11 (2022).
11. Hu, M.L., Zheng, G., Zhang, Y.D., Yan, X., Li, X.C. and Lin, H., 2018. Effect of desensitizing toothpastes on dentine hypersensitivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of dentistry, 75, pp.12-21.
12. Christensen, G.J., 1998. Why clean your tongue?. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 129(11), pp.1605-1607.
13. Hujoel, P.P., Cunha-Cruz, J., Banting, D.W. and Loesche, W.J., 2006. Dental flossing and interproximal caries: a systematic review. Journal of dental research, 85(4), pp.298-305.
14. Lyle, D.M., 2012. Relevance of the water flosser: 50 years of data. Compend Contin Educ Dent, 33(4).
15. Farah, C.S., McIntosh, L. and McCullough, M.J., 2009. Mouthwashes.
16. Jones, C.G., 1997. Chlorhexidine: is it still the gold standard?. Periodontology 2000, 15, pp.55-62.
17. Singh, S., Anuradha, P., Sahana, S., Narayan, M. and Agarwal, S., 2017. Comparative evaluation of mouth rinsing with plain water and an antibacterial mouth rinse on salivary pH: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry, 15(4), p.302.
18. Gondivkar, S.M., Gadbail, A.R., Gondivkar, R.S., Sarode, S.C., Sarode, G.S., Patil, S. and Awan, K.H., 2019. Nutrition and oral health. Disease-a-month, 65(6), pp.147-154.
19. Warren, P.R., Jacobs, D., Low, M.A., Chater, B.V. and King, D.W., 2002. A clinical investigation into the effect of toothbrush wear on efficacy. The Journal of clinical dentistry, 13(3), pp.119-124.
20. Richards, D., 2012. How clean is your toothbrush?. Evidence-based dentistry, 13(4), pp.111-111.
21. Porter, S.R. and Scully, C., 2006. Oral malodour (halitosis). Bmj, 333(7569), pp.632-635..
22. Marchesan, J.T., Byrd, K.M., Moss, K., Preisser, J.S., Morelli, T., Zandona, A.F., Jiao, Y. and Beck, J., 2020. Flossing is associated with improved oral health in older adults. Journal of Dental Research, 99(9), pp.1047-1053.
23. Attin, T. and Hornecker, E., 2005. Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed?. Oral health & preventive dentistry, 3(3).
24. Farah, C.S., McIntosh, L. and McCullough, M.J., 2009. Mouthwashes.