DENTAL HYGIENE

Below is a list of the most common tools: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash.

The toothbrush is the most widely used tool for preventing cavities due to its mechanical ability to remove food residues from the teeth, reducing plaque formation. Few people may know that, to be truly effective, a toothbrush should have certain functional features. Our dental hygienists recommend using toothbrushes with a straight handle, a small head that easily reaches every corner of the mouth and each tooth, and soft, artificial bristles that are straight and rounded at the tip. The toothbrush should be replaced when it loses these features due to prolonged and frequent use, typically every 2 or 3 months. The toothbrush is strictly personal and should always be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area (humidity promotes bacterial growth), ensuring the bristles are covered or at least not in close contact with other objects or surfaces. Proper brushing technique is also essential for good oral hygiene: the toothbrush movement on teeth should be vertical, gently brushing along the gumline to remove food residues effectively. There’s no need to brush too vigorously, as this can cause abrasion of the tooth surface near the gumline, damage to gums, or minor injuries to the mouth’s mucous membrane, possibly causing ulcers (small wounds inside the mouth).

Toothpaste complements the mechanical action performed by the toothbrush. Thanks to its cleansing properties, toothpaste is an excellent aid for plaque removal and deodorizing effects. There are countless types of toothpaste available on the market, and our patients frequently ask us for recommendations about specific brands. In such cases, we advise not a specific brand but instead emphasize the primary feature of truly effective toothpaste: it should be low-abrasive or non-abrasive, as constant use of abrasive substances on teeth may eventually cause erosion of the tooth enamel and dental cervical abrasion. Usually, whitening toothpaste is rather abrasive and doesn’t effectively whiten teeth. In most cases, there’s no need to resort to specialized toothpastes (anti-tartar or whitening); choosing a standard fluoride-containing toothpaste, combined with thorough mechanical brushing, is sufficient.

Dental floss, along with the toothbrush, is an essential oral hygiene tool, indispensable for effectively cleaning spaces between teeth, where the bristles of a regular toothbrush can’t reach. When used between the teeth, flossing should be gentle to avoid injuring the gums. The floss should be positioned in the gumline, forming a “C” shape that hugs the tooth, and moved vertically up and down. Afterward, move to another area of the gums using a clean section of floss.

Mouthwash does not remove plaque and thus shouldn’t replace brushing and flossing. Mouthwash should be considered an additional product that completes oral hygiene and should be used after carefully brushing the teeth with toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Being liquid, mouthwash is beneficial for reaching areas of the mouth that may not have been perfectly brushed.