Proper Mouth Cleaning
Brushing the teeth every morning and night is an essential pattern in maintaining a good oral hygiene, however, it is of immeasurable importance to know the proper ways of mouth cleaning and general care. The following are important guides to maintaining a great oral hygiene.
- Brushing with the IDEAL technique:
- Start with your brush at an angle of 450 to the gums.
- Use short back and forth strokes across the sides.
- hold the brush horizontally to clean chewing surface of molars.
- then, vertically hold the brush and use short strokes to focus on the Back of the front teeth
- Brush Enough:
- This goes beyond brushing regularly. it is recommended that you brush for at least 2 minutes and it should be done at least twice daily.
- listen to short songs or set a timer during tooth brushing to help you with the timing.
- Pick the right toothbrush:
- An ideal toothbrush should have a head and bristles small enough to reach behind the molars, in those areas where food debris can hide after eating.
- The brush should be soft or medium textured, except recommended.
- Floss properly and regularly:
- Get between every teeth to remove germs that are stuck there.
- use a piece of floss long enough, approximately 18inches, allowing you to use a fresh layer of floss without reinserting bacteria you just removed.
- Use a mouthwash:
- A mouth wash should be used as an adjunct to brushing and flossing and not a replacement or substitute.
- Ask the dentist for the ideal mouthwash for you.
- Care for your toothbrush:
- rinse your brush with enough water
- allow to dry and do not cover, so the toothbrush does not breed new bacteria introduce them to the mouth.
- do not share toothbrush with anyone.
- change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. the bristles deteriorate with time and usage, and they end up not brushing properly.
- Do not snack before bed:
- Brushing should be the last activity before bed. if you have to snack after brushing, then brush again before finally going to bed.
