White teeth
Would you like to have white teeth at last? Daily dental care should be an integral part of our morning and evening hygiene ritual. Not only brushing, but also the daily use of dental floss should not be missed. If you take care of the inside of your mouth, you can also prevent inflammations or injuries of the oral mucosa and the mouth and throat area.
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Let's go through the most important points concerning dental care: To prevent caries and periodontitis, regular brushing is very important. Thorough brushing, twice a day is sufficient, because scrubbing too frequently can quickly damage the tooth enamel. Dental floss or interdental brushes should always be used before brushing. There are various designs for this purpose. In the case of dental floss, so-called floss sticks have been available for some years now, which make the application much easier.
The right brushing method
It's all in the technique! 60% of the tooth surfaces can be reached with a manual or electric toothbrush. If you scrub wildly and without system, however, this can lead to teeth being missed out during cleaning. This often affects the canines or the back molars. It is best to start on the outside of one side of the upper arch and work your way to the end, then brush along the inside back to the starting point. Then perform the same routine on the lower dental arch. We often learned as children to brush with circular movements, but this is not the best method: you should brush from "red" (gum) to "white" (tooth), with sweeping movements from top to bottom. Start the brush at the top and then "sweep" it back down. More pressure does not equal better, and more thorough cleaning. It tends to have negative effects, such as damaging the gums or even the enamel. You can test it easily on a ripe tomato... if the bristles penetrate the flesh, then it is certainly too hard for your own gums.
Dental Floss
The remaining 40% must be cleaned by dental floss, floss sticks or interdental toothbrushes (interdental brushes). The hard-to-reach interdental spaces must be carefully brushed so that food debris can be removed as thoroughly as possible, preventing bad breath and tooth decay. Flossing is a better way to remove plaque from between the teeth and below the gum line. However, handling it requires some practice. Each time you use it, you should tear off about 40cm of new floss, therefore a new, clean strand is used for each interdental space. Now wrap the floss around both index or middle fingers. A 3-5cm long piece should now be held tightly between thumb and index finger. By means of "sawing movements" the dental floss is now introduced into the interdental space. The tooth should be enclosed by the floss in a C-shape and the floss should be moved from the gum line to the end of the tooth. It is very important to use a new, fresh piece of floss for each new interdental space. Floss sticks are more suitable for beginners. You should hold the stick firmly in your hand and then slowly move the head of the stick between your teeth. The space between the teeth is then cleaned with "forward-backward" movements. One stick is usually enough for the entire cleaning session and is then discarded. WHICH TOOTHPASTE IS THE RIGHT ONE? Per capita toothpaste consumption averages 5 tubes per year. There are now many different products on the market for cleaning teeth: Toothpaste, tooth powder, tooth chalk etc... they are supposed to help remove plaque and reduce coffee, tea and tobacco discoloration thanks to cleaning agents or, in the best case, make them disappear completely. In addition, they are said to freshen your breath and care for your gums. The cleaning bodies, i.e. the abrasive particles, should be chosen well, because in the case of sensitive teeth, one must be careful and better choose a product with few of these abrasive cleaning bodies. With a normal paste or cream, the RDA value (abrasive effect) is between 30 and 50. For very sensitive teeth, it should therefore ideally be lower than that, so that the enamel and gums are protected. "Whitening tooth care products" are often touted in advertisements, but they can be very damaging to the enamel and cause more harm than good. If you suffer from exposed tooth necks, you should give these products a wide berth. Quite new on the market are now the "black" tooth products, which clean and whiten the teeth by means of natural activated charcoal. The abrasive effect of these tooth powders is rather low, and the activated charcoal is supposed to gently clean and whiten your teeth.
Bad breath
Thorough, hygienic daily tooth cleaning provides the best basis for a fresh, clean mouth. If you still suffer from bad breath, you should definitely be able to rule out the possibility that this could be caused by a stomach or intestinal disorder. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor if you notice a foul odor over a longer period of time (even if you clean your teeth regularly). Additives such as menthol, mint, sage or myrrh in toothpastes and tooth powders provide an additional, long-lasting freshness effect in the mouth.
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FAQ
Can teeth be damaged by brushing too often?
Yes, scrubbing too hard and too often can irritate and damage the enamel and gums. It is better to brush thoroughly twice a day (morning and evening) and, if you have sensitive teeth, use a soft toothbrush and a mild toothpaste or tooth powder.
Do I need to floss every day?
Yes, floss or floss sticks should be used before every brushing (i.e. twice a day), because brushing only cleans 60% of the tooth surface. Bacteria and food residues unfortunately like to settle in the hard-to-reach interdental spaces and can best be removed with dental floss.
Which toothpaste to use for bad breath
If you can rule out a disease of the gastrointestinal tract and it is just "normal" bad breath, then you can choose a toothpaste or tooth powder that contains essential oils such as mint or menthol. This will give you an extra kick of freshness.
How do I use tooth powder?
Apply a small amount to your wet toothbrush. For hygienic reasons, you should rather use a small spoon and not press the head of the brush into the powder that is inside the tin. Afterwards, you can brush as usual. Note: The tooth powder does not foam!
Should you use a mouthwash or not?
Brushing your teeth daily is actually sufficient for good oral hygiene. If you want to supplement your routine with a mouthwash, you can do so. However, mouthwashes are no miracle cures and do not replace thorough tooth brushing. They do, however, provide a refreshing effect to the mouth and throat. You should, of course, be careful not to swallow it accidentally. After gargling, it is recommended that you always rinse it out completely.