Healthy smile: Guide to daily dental care

Regular tooth brushing is necessary to maintain a healthy smile. This is essential for maintaining good oral health and healthy teeth and gums.

How often do you brush your teeth and with which brush?

It is necessary to brush the teeth at least twice a day, for at least 2 minutes each time. The question of which brush to choose is often asked. Brushes of various shapes and materials are available, such as plastic, wooden, electric or ultrasonic, but the most important thing is proper and thorough brushing. Therefore, it is important to learn the correct brushing technique. Teeth are brushed with short circular movements and light pressure on the gums. One half of the brush should be placed against the gums, and the other half against the tooth. The bristles of the brush must always face the gums at an angle of 45 degrees. It is recommended to use a brush with soft or medium-soft bristles to avoid pulling the gums and damaging the enamel.

After each brushing, the brush should be thoroughly rinsed to prevent the accumulation of plaque and bacteria. Also, it is recommended to change the brush regularly every three months, or more often if necessary.

Which toothpaste should you use?

When choosing a toothpaste, it is preferable that it contains fluorides that promote the remineralization of hard dental tissues. Its basic function is to provide abrasive particles that will enable the removal of plaque during brushing.

Other equipment

Effective removal of plaque and food residues cannot be achieved solely by brushing the teeth. Interdental brushes or dental floss are used for hard-to-reach places between the teeth. An interdental brush should be selected according to the size of the interdental spaces and replaced every two weeks or when the fibers wear out. Floss should be used carefully, introducing it between the teeth from the biting surface slowly until the strongest contact between the two teeth is passed.

Oral douche is an additional tool in oral hygiene, as are oral irrigators, but they do not replace a brush, interdental brush, or dental floss. The shower is especially useful for people with prosthetic work for washing areas where food residues may remain.

Prevention

In addition to oral hygiene, prevention is extremely important. Regular visits to the dentist and dental hygienist are key to preventing caries, periodontal diseases and all other factors that promote the development of the disease. Experienced hygienists will learn how to adapt the best oral hygiene routine to each person, because oral health care is an investment in an individual’s overall health.