Take Good Care Of Your Teeth At Night
There are three basic steps to nighttime hygiene: brushing
, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. The order doesn't matter, as long as the food particles and plaque are removed. However, most people prefer to floss, brush and then mouthwash.Though some think it is easier to floss after brushing. Brushing your teeth helps protect them from plaque buildup and tooth decay. Using a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste that contains fluoride, start brushing your teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
The correct method, according to the American Dental Association, is to brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes. The ADA suggests brushing the outer tooth surfaces first, then working your way through the inner tooth surfaces and the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
The association also recommends using the "toe" of the brush to clean the backs of your front teeth with gentle up-and-down strokes. Whether you should brush right after dinner, before bed, or both depends on your susceptibility to dental disease.
Because recent studies have shown that the risk for dental disease varies from person to person, dentists are now following medical models of dental disease to determine their patients' susceptibility and the type of care they need. People who are at a low risk for cavities and gum disease can certainly wait until bedtime to brush.
When it comes to what kind of toothbrush to use, there are many technological advances nowadays, many dentists recommend using an electronic toothbrush. Many people believe that by using an electronic toothbrush that it will help them to avoid unwanted visits to the dentist office.
They also use this reasoning to spend more on an electronic toothbrush as it will save them more money in the long run. In general, you should use a toothbrush, whether it be electronic or manual, that has soft bristles.
Soft bristles are great for teeth cleaning as they are able to brush the gum area without causing bruising or cutting of the gums. These soft bristled brushes should have rounded head tips for easy cleaning of the teeth due to the teeth's natural curvature.
Your toothbrush should also be made by a brand name in the dental world such as Oral- B or Crest. They are reasonably priced and you will avoid using a toothbrush that may cause irreversible damage to your teeth and gums.
Cleaning between your teeth with floss allows you to reach plaque that you can't remove with a toothbrush. Flossing at least once a day will also help prevent periodontal (gum) disease.
To floss properly, the ADA recommends using an 18-inch-long strand, winding most of it around your middle fingers (to manage the floss as it gets dirty), and then holding the remaining floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Next, use a gentle rubbing motion to guide the floss between your teeth.
As you move toward the gum line, curve the floss into a C shape against each tooth, rubbing back and forth against the tooth as you go. When you get to the root of the tooth, slide the floss into the space between the gum and the tooth and keep rubbing gently.
Then slowly move the floss away from the gum with an up-and-down motion, and repeat for the rest of your teeth, including the backsides of your last teeth on the top and bottom. Flossing is important because it enables you to remove plaque while it's still soft; once the plaque hardens and forms tartar, only a professional cleaning by a hygienist or dentist can remove it.
Patients who are very susceptible to gum disease or tartar buildup may want to consider flossing twice a day. Rinsing with a therapeutic mouthwash will help keep your breath fresh, your teeth plaque- and cavity-free, and your gums safe from gingivitis.
Most mouthwashes are sold over the counter, though some require prescriptions. Follow the instructions on the packaging for best results.
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