Daily dental  care is essential for proper oral health. Brushing and regular flossing are the keys.

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, morning and evening, ideally after each meal.

Choosing a toothbrush

• Use a toothbrush with a compact, rounded head, which will make it easier to reach all tooth surfaces.
• Choose a brush with soft or extra-soft bristles, to go easier on your tooth enamel and protect your gums.
• Make sure the handle fits comfortably in your hand.
• Replace your toothbrush or the tip of your electric brush when the bristles are bent or when a whitish layer accumulates at the bottom of the bristles (usually once every three months).

Manual or electric?

The length of time you brush and your brushing technique are more important than the type of brush you use. If you choose an electric brush, make sure it has a replaceable head with an oscillating, pulsating motion.

Toothpaste

When used with a toothbrush, toothpaste helps to remove dental plaque, surface stains and food debris on the surfaces of teeth, gums and the tongue. It improves your appearance, and also has preventive and therapeutic benefits. Toothpaste comes in three forms: paste, gel, and a combination of paste and gel.

Dental floss

Dental floss lets you remove the plaque between your teeth that you can’t reach with a toothbrush. That is why it is important to floss every day, preferably before you go to bed.

Dental plaque is an invisible film that sticks to your teeth and builds up day after day. When plaque is not removed daily, it calcifies and leaves a hard deposit called tartar that accumulates over time. The build-up of plaque and tartar can lead to diseases of the gums (gingivitis) and the bones that support your teeth (periodontitis). Tartar can only be removed by cleaning at your dentist’s office.

Sometimes your gums bleed when you first start flossing. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after several days, you should consult your dentist. The first sign of gingivitis is bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth.

It is important to floss even if you wear braces or if your teeth are widely spaced or if you have a fixed bridge. If your teeth are wide enough apart, you can use an interdental toothbrush, which simplifies the task of cleaning between molars.

Mouthwash

Although using an antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce the bacteria in your mouth, mouthwash alone is never as effective as when it is combined with brushing and flossing.

In addition, mouthwash that contains alcohol can dry out the mucosa in your mouth, and actually contribute to bad breath, among other problems.

The ABCs of brushing

• Put about 1 cm of toothpaste on the brush.
• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, with the bristles below the gum line at the bottom of your teeth.
• Brush for at least two minutes.
• Use a gentle rotating motion.
• Clean all the surfaces of every tooth.
• Brush your tongue.
• Rinse your toothbrush and leave it out to dry.

Don’t brush your teeth too hard: it can irritate your teeth and loosen them. Over time it can wear them down.

The ABCs of flossing

• Cut off at least 30 cm of floss.
• Roll it around your index fingers, leaving about 5 cm of floss between your hands.
• Slide the floss between your teeth and make a semi-circle below the gum, at the bottom of the tooth.
• Clean both sides of each tooth; always remember to clean the back of your molars, too.
• Repeat until there are no more food particles between your teeth.

Professional cleaning

Even if you have good oral hygiene, you still need to visit the dentist for a complete cleaning.

The purpose of this procedure is to:

• smooth and clean the surfaces of your teeth and fillings
• remove tartar and plaque, since they can lead to gum disease
• remove stains on your teeth

Professional cleaning is a necessary complement to brushing and flossing at home.