Regular and careful oral care is not only a guarantee of healthy teeth and fresh breath, but also an important contribution to overall well-being. However, even such a seemingly elementary thing as daily brushing is not done correctly by everyone. Let’s figure out the main mistakes together!
Oral health is closely related to the general condition of the body. Food debris is an ideal environment for the reproduction of harmful bacteria, which provoke an unpleasant odor, gum inflammation, caries and other problems.
That is why regular dental care is not just a habit, but a necessary part of daily self-care. How to brush your teeth correctly, what tools will help maintain oral health, and why it is important not to forget about your tongue, VOICE learned from a doctor with over 15 years of experience.
What is included in the minimum home set?
To keep your mouth healthy, it is important to keep it clean. Even if you can’t use a toothbrush, you should at least rinse your mouth with water and get rid of food debris. The ideal care regimen includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and even better after each meal.
What should be in the arsenal for proper care
This is a toothbrush, an irrigator, single-tufted brushes, dental floss and a tongue cleaner. Now let’s figure out together what each of these tools is for.
Toothbrush
A medium-hardness brush with a large number of bristles is best. Contrary to popular belief, it should not be changed after three months, but as it wears out. As soon as the bristles lose their shape, it is time to update the brush.
After brushing your teeth, don’t forget to go over your gums and the inside of your cheeks – bacteria accumulate there too. When choosing a toothbrush, it’s important to pay attention to the fact that there are a lot of bristles. Don’t confuse them with hard brushes, they can wear away the enamel.
Single tuft brush
This is a toothbrush with one small tufted head, designed for particularly thorough and precise cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity. It is indispensable for caring for areas around braces, implants, crowns and bridges, as well as in the presence of gum disease or recession.
Thanks to its shape, the single-tuft brush effectively cleans interdental spaces, the gum line and distant teeth, including wisdom teeth, where it is difficult to reach with a regular brush. Its use helps to effectively remove plaque, reduce the risk of caries and inflammation, and maintain oral health in the presence of orthodontic structures.
Dental floss
It is necessary for thorough cleaning of the spaces between teeth, where a regular toothbrush cannot reach. It is in these areas that food debris and plaque often accumulate, which over time can lead to caries, gum inflammation and bad breath.
Regular flossing helps maintain healthy gums, prevent tartar build-up and promotes overall oral hygiene.
Irrigator
It thoroughly washes the spaces between teeth and gently massages the gums, improving their condition and preventing inflammation.
Tongue Cleaner
Finally, we clean the tongue with a special cleaner, paying special attention to its middle and root. This helps prevent ENT diseases (for example, tonsillitis) and maintains the health of the gastrointestinal tract.
It has been proven that the state of the microflora in the mouth directly affects digestion, and problems with plaque on the tongue may be associated with a violation of the intestinal microflora. It is best to use a metal tongue cleaner – it is more effective than a plastic one and does not accumulate bacteria.
Myths and life hacks
There is a myth that a mouthwash should be a mandatory part of daily hygiene, but they should not be used unless necessary. They often contain chemical components that can disrupt the natural balance of microflora.
Even a light coating on the teeth that appears after one meal makes the teeth visually darker and duller. But clean teeth always look brighter, shine and create a much more pleasant impression – even if only at a subconscious level. So here’s a little life hack: always have a travel kit for cleaning your teeth with you. It’s compact, convenient and can come in handy at the most unexpected moment – be it after lunch, before an important meeting or just on the road.
