There are two major daily routine that are compulsory in helping you with perfect oral hygiene; flossing and brushing. Proper brushing and flossing can help you win over oral diseases. Yes, you would still be required to visit a dentist twice a year but you would prevent a lot of stress on your dentist. Remember dentistry is not expensive but neglect is.
Before we go about detailing brushing and flossing techniques that can help you with a perfect dazzling smile and not injure your gums, let’s take you through different reasons why you need to floss and brush daily.
1. Prevention of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs when food particles break down into acids and eat deep into your enamel. It is one of the most common dental problems with complicated procedures. You can avoid tooth decay simply by brushing twice daily as well as flossing after meals.
2. Win over Periodontal Disease.
Periodontal disease is not as common as tooth loss, but can be life threatening. They can cause bone degradation, tooth loss and bleeding gums. Periodontal disease is caused when bacteria found in plaque affects the gum. They go as far as eating deep into the gums causing problems to your oral health and sometimes your general well being at large. It is important to note that you can’t totally remove a degraded paque with the aid of brushing and flossing, you would need a proper scaling and polishing procedure to take those plaque off. To book an appointment for a scaling and polishing procedure, kindly click here.
3. Halitosis (Bad Breath)
In our previous article, we elaborated on what halitosis is and how to prevent it. Kindly read here. On the other hand, there are different types of bad breath, but they are majorly caused as a result of leftover meals in between the teeth. These particles stuck can be effectively removed by regular brushing as well as brushing. If these particles are left for a long time, they can develop into plaque thus causing other related oral problems.
4. Tooth Discoloration
What we eat most times stain the surface of our teeth. Our daily oral hygiene routine has played roles in effectively helping us defeat permanent stains on the surface of the teeth. Sometimes, tooth discoloration can only be won through teeth whitening. To book your teeth whitening procedure, kindly contact us today.
The Right Brushing Technique
You are expected to brush your teeth at least twice daily; morning and night. The perfect toothbrush is expected to have rounded bristles and have rounded end bristles. Ensure that your toothbrush is not three months old. Ensure that the head of the brush is rounded enough and can easily navigate through the mouth.
Here is a basic Guide To Proper Brushing.
- Ensure you are holding the toothbrush in a 45- degree angle where you can sweep the teeth and the gums.
- Use circular motions to gently brush the gum line and teeth.
- Avoid scrubbing or applying pressure to the teeth so you can damage the gums and tooth enamel.
- Ensure that you brush every area of the teeth, inside and out in a circular motif.
- Brush on the surfaces of the teeth and the crevice.
- Ensure that you brush the tongue adequately and stroke gently.
The Proper Way to Floss
Flossing is the perfect way to remove interdental debris. It is as important as tooth brushing. Flossing helps to fight against periodontal diseases and also helps limit the depth of periodontal pockets. It is important to note that the flavor and the floss type is not as important as utilizing the right technique.
Here is a Basic Guide to Proper Flossing:
- Cut a piece of floss to around 18 inches long.
- Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart.
- Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
- Curve the floss in a U-shape around each individual tooth and carefully slide it beneath the gum line.
- Carefully move the floss up and down several times to remove interdental plaque and debris.
- Do not pop the floss in and out between the teeth as this will inflame and cut the gums.
If you have any questions about the correct way to brush or floss, please ask our dentist or dental hygienist at Smile 360 dental clinic. You could book an appointment here. We’d be glad to help!
