Brushing it Off - is Brushing Your Teeth Enough?
Many of our patients walk in our doors having had very little education on the best way to look after their teeth. While the level of education is improving in New Zealand, we are writing this blog to help you - yes you! - with your daily routine, and some important things you might be leaving out.
Brushing
Most people know that dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day for two minutes. But that won’t be any good to you if your brushing technique is all wrong!
The New Zealand Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth on a 45 degree angle to the gums, covering all surfaces of your teeth - inside, outside, and chewing surfaces. There is no need to scrub really hard - in fact, that can damage your gums! It is better to be slow and thorough, making sure you really cover every single area of your teeth. Give your tongue a quick brush at the end - this gets rid of some of the smelly bacteria that can give you bad breath.
It is also a good idea to swap out your toothbrush every few months - ask your dentist for recommendations on what toothbrush they think you should use.
Flossing
As a practice who specialise in gums, we can’t stress this enough - you need to floss every single day! As Dr Longbottom says, “Only floss the teeth you want to keep!” We know it adds a minute or two to your routine, but flossing makes you less susceptible to periodontal disease. This is a chronic disease - meaning it CAN’T be cured. So take preventative measures while you can.
Your toothbrush can’t get the food out from between your teeth, so you need to use the floss to get right up into the gums. We recommend using the floss and gently bringing it right up between your tooth and your gum, to make sure there’s no food stuck in there. Do this between all of your teeth, and at the backs of your molars.
Bonus fact: it is often the food stuck between your teeth that gives you really smelly breath, so flossing every day will make sure you’re all fresh and clean.
Diet
While it’s technically not part of your ‘routine’, it’s important to remember how much the things we eat can affect our oral health. Any kind of sugar will stick to the enamel of your teeth, and over time this can cause decay. Things to watch out for include fruit juice, lollies, sugar in hot drinks, and soft drinks. We recommend avoiding these things if you can, but if not, then at least give your teeth a quick brush after eating a pile of lollies!
Another thing to bear in mind is that overly acidic foods - citrus, lollies with a lot of citric acid in them, and many soft drinks - have a similar effect to sugar on your teeth. Try and swish your mouth out with water after having a glass of lemonade, or eating some sherbet.
For more information on diet and your teeth, check out this great resource.
Mouthwash
While mouthwash is a great way to give you minty fresh breath on a date, we don’t recommend it as part of your daily routine. If you are trying to save on costs, this is probably one thing you could go without. The same thing goes for chewing gum, or mints. If you just have to have them, make sure they are sugar-free!
Dental Checkups
We know that annual dental check-ups feel like a hassle. But this is a vital step in avoiding future complications with your teeth. Imagine a situation where you have some decay on a tooth. If you visit the dentist, they can give you a filling, and it shouldn’t cause too many more issues, provided you follow their instructions and keep up your oral hygiene.
However, if you decide to leave it, the chances are high that the decay will worsen, and eventually the tooth may be past saving, and need to be removed. Getting a replacement for that tooth is vastly more expensive and time-consuming than your annual dental check-up would have been.