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Dentists never tire of emphasizing how important it is to brush your teeth properly and do it regularly. In the oral cavity of every person lives a huge number of bacteria. The most active fluid in the body, saliva, neutralizes their action, but it is not able to destroy the bio-threat on its own. Brushing comes to the rescue. <\/p>\n

We brush our teeth to remove from the enamel its main enemy – a biofilm of bacteria (plaque). Biofilm settles on your teeth after every meal. Sticky food fragments, mainly carbohydrates and sugar, help it do this. Layer by layer, the bacteria build up on the surface, producing acids.<\/p>\n

Gradually, these acids eat away at the enamel and penetrate the tooth. This is how tooth decay, the most common dental disease, occurs.<\/p>\n

If plaque is not removed, it builds up, hardens and becomes tartar. Then it gets under the gum, causing inflammation of the tissue around the tooth. This is periodontitis, the second most common oral disease.<\/p>\n

Slowing down plaque formation is the goal of dental hygiene.<\/p>\n

How often adults should brush their teeth<\/h2>\n

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The mandatory minimum is morning and evening. But it is best to brush after every meal.If you do not have a brush, you can use dental floss. It cleans well between the teeth, where food accumulates the most.In case there is neither, you can rinse your mouth with water. The best time to brush your teeth is within 5 minutes after eating.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the evening it is worth paying more attention to the procedure. The fact is that at night the body produces less saliva. As a result, its protective function is reduced. It is important to clean the teeth well from biofilm, so that it does not accumulate on the enamel overnight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is the best way to clean your teeth<\/h2>\n

The market offers a huge variety of toothbrushes. The main criterion for choosing an ordinary brush, is bristles made of quality nylon and a handle made of good plastic. After all, the main thing is the correct algorithm of brushing your teeth. Otherwise, the coolest toothbrush will not cope with its task. You need to change the brush when:<\/p>\n

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• The bristles have deviated from the vertical axis, “mussed”.<\/li>\n
• After 3 months from the last replacement<\/li>\n
• After any dental procedure (treatment, hygienic cleaning, whitening).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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  Electric toothbrushes<\/h2>\n

  In the hectic rhythm of modern life, a person does not always pay attention to:<\/p>\n

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  • Use vertical and circular brush strokes instead of horizontal ones;<\/li>\n
  • Brush your teeth for at least 3 minutes;<\/li>\n
  • Be sure to clean the sides of the teeth<\/li>\n
  • Don’t forget about the back teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Partially, an electric toothbrush can help solve this problem.<\/p>\n

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    • A manual toothbrush can make no more than 400 strokes in 3 minutes. An electric toothbrush makes about 20,000 pulsing strokes and about 7-8,000 reciprocating strokes.<\/li>\n
    • With an electric toothbrush, you can worry less about brushing technique. Just hold the brush on the surface and it will do the rest. <\/li>\n
    • Many models have several modes: for everyday, gentle, whitening cleaning, gum massage.<\/li>\n
    • The presence of interchangeable brush heads allows you to use one brush handle for the whole family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The heads on electric toothbrushes are changed with the same frequency as manual toothbrushes.<\/p>\n

      It is up to the patient to decide which brush to choose, but a dentist’s advice can help you decide.<\/p>\n

      Brushes of any kind should be stored in an upright position without caps. Moisture is a joy for bacteria, but they do not like a dry environment. So, brushes should be in a place that is well ventilated and not characterized by high humidity.<\/p>\n

      Dental floss (floss)<\/h3>\n

      Floss is designed to clean the interdental spaces, which is where decay most often begins. It’s important to remember that floss is meant for regular use, not just when you have a piece of steak stuck between your teeth. After any meal, there is a lot of soft food debris left in between the teeth. They are a breeding ground for bacteria. It’s best to keep a box of floss handy and floss after every meal.<\/p>\n

      Irrigator<\/h3>\n

      The basis of the irrigator is a water pump. It provides a fairly powerful stream of water. <\/p>\n

      Benefits of an irrigator:<\/p>\n

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      • Removes biofilm from the enamel surface<\/li>\n
      • Cleans the interdental spaces<\/li>\n
      • Cleans plaque from the gum pockets<\/li>\n
      • Removes plaque from the tongue or gums<\/li>\n
      • Does not traumatize the gum<\/li>\n
      • Indicated for hypersensitive teeth<\/li>\n
      • Improves blood circulation by massaging the gums<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \nIrrigator does not replace brushing<\/p>\n

        Irrigators have been proven to be more effective in removing plaque, reducing bleeding, and reducing sensitivity than floss and brushes. <\/p>\n

        There are no contraindications to the use of irrigators, but people with cardiovascular insufficiency should consult a doctor.<\/p>\n

        Additional methods<\/h2>\n

        As an alternative to flossing, dentists suggest using interdental brushes. They have proven themselves in patients with braces, dentures and sensitive teeth. Some studies confirm the greater effectiveness of brushes in removing plaque compared to floss. That’s not the case with toothpicks. They’re great for getting stuck bits of food out, but they don’t remove plaque. But toothpicks can damage the mucosa or leave scratches on the enamel without any problems.<\/p>\n

        Which toothpaste to choose<\/h2>\n

        Toothpaste in the prevention of dental diseases, plays as important a role as proper hygiene.<\/p>\n

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        • Hygienic toothpastes help to clean enamel from plaque<\/li>\n
        • Preventive toothpastes prevent the onset of diseases,<\/li>\n
        • Therapeutic toothpastes target oral diseases.<\/li>\n
        • Whitening pastes lighten enamel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Further pastes are divided into groups, depending on the purpose for which they are used:<\/p>\n

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          • To prevent tooth decay<\/li>\n
          • Fluoride pastes Enamel consists of a special substance, hydroxyapatite. Fluoride ions react with it to form a new substance, fluorohydroxyapatite. It is much more resistant to the acids that cariesogenic bacteria produce.<\/li>\n
          • Paste without fluoride Calcium-saturated pastes are not as effective as products with fluoride, so they are recommended only for the prevention of fluorosis in regions where there is an increased content of fluoride in the water.<\/li>\n
          • Anti-inflammatory Contains therapeutic components that contribute to the normalization of microflora and have a wound-healing effect. Suitable for bleeding and swelling of the gums.<\/li>\n
          • Reducing the sensitivity of enamel (desensitizing) These pastes have a low abrasiveness index: 25-35 (conventional – 75). The active ingredients of such products are strontium chloride, hydroxyapatite, zinc citrate. They clog the dentinal tubules, the movement of fluid in them stops, the teeth cease to react acutely to stimuli.<\/li>\n
          • Bleaching These pst have a higher abrasiveness index (15-200), so they should be used with caution, not on a permanent basis, but courses. In addition, the active oxygen in the composition can contribute to the softening of enamel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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