How To Actually Brush Your Teeth Properly (and What You Might Be Doing Wrong)

If you start your day with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (or "green" smoothie), then it's time to kick the habit. And if you have not yet come to her, you shouldn't even start. Here's why.

We are talking about dental health, which, as you know, is very expensive to treat not only financially, but also emotionally. The results of a study by the notorious British scientists showed that today 3 out of 10 British people brush their teeth only once a day. And their American counterparts came to the absolutely fantastic conclusion that the average mass of millennials (and subsequent generations) after a short time will completely switch to brushing their teeth every 2-3 days. Dentists around the world are sounding the alarm: caries is rapidly getting younger, and today they have to remove children's milk teeth five times more often than they did ten years ago.

Cause? Firstly, sweets, or rather bacteria, which desserts leave behind. But you can't just sin on chocolate and carbonated drinks. Even if your family is a strict adherent of a healthy lifestyle, the natural sugars found in healthy snacks, natural fruit juices and smoothies will not spare your teeth. Secondly, improper oral hygiene. It would seem that you brush your teeth twice a day for at least 60 seconds (few are able to relax with a brush behind the cheek for 3-3.5 minutes) - and no problem. But it's not that simple.

A complete guide to how (and what) to properly brush your teeth

Step one: electric brush

No, your dentist is not a “salesperson”: electric devices are indeed many times more efficient than conventional brushes. Plaque on teeth - an unpleasant sticky substance that you can feel on your tongue if you don't brush your teeth for a long time - is removed much faster and with less effort with an electric brush. You will have to spend money, but there is also good news - standard electric brushes are no worse than improved counterparts. This means that you can buy a device for 12 thousand rubles with a nozzle for cleaning the tongue and the ability to connect to the phone to monitor the correctness of the process online, but in fact it will clean your teeth in the same way as a brush for 2.5 thousand rubles. The secret of the advantage over a conventional manual toothbrush is the rotating head, thanks to which a more effective effect is achieved. That is why the electric brush does not need to be moved "up and down" as usual: just press it firmly against the surface of the tooth for a few seconds, and then slowly move it to the next. But one useful additional function of electric toothbrushes is definitely a timer, which will sound to remind you that 30 seconds or a minute of brushing your teeth has already expired.

Step two: the simpler the better

Replacing an analog brush with an electric one requires some effort (not only financial). If you are not yet ready for them, carefully choose a regular brush, which needs to be changed every three months (and this is not a myth). Pay attention to the characteristics of the bristles. A hard brush can make your teeth feel completely clean, but studies show that the downside is the potential for tooth enamel erosion. To put it simply, stiff-bristled brushes can be too abrasive and traumatic for not only the gums but also the teeth.

Dentists advise sticking to the golden mean and choosing brushes with soft to medium bristles. Small-headed brushes, as funny as they seem, are also preferable - they are very maneuverable and well reach all three surfaces of the tooth (external, internal and "chewing").

Step three: rinse aid ─ only between cleanings

If you have a good brush and good quality toothpaste, then the rinse for your teeth is the third extra. Dentists advise using it exclusively in between brushing your teeth in order to "freshen up", well, or continue to throw money away. It is also worth mentioning here that in recent years there have been many scary studies that regular use of mouthwash causes laryngeal cancer (allegedly due to alcohol additives in the composition). There is still no convincing evidence that this is so, as well as compelling arguments that it is necessary to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.

Step four: don't brush your teeth after dinner

Just one caveat: if you had a good walk at this dinner. Brushing your teeth before collapsing on the bed to get rid of the unpleasant aromatic cocktail in your mouth is a natural desire after a great evening. Dentists strongly advise against doing this: it is better to just rinse your mouth thoroughly and brush your teeth in the morning. Otherwise, brushing can do more harm than good, especially if the alcoholic drinks you drink were fizzy. Sparkling wine or soda cocktails with acidity soften the enamel of the teeth, therefore, while time has passed, you should refrain from aggressive exposure to a brush and paste. When you really want to freshen up your mouth, you can use a mouthwash - this is just one of those few cases when it will be appropriate.

Step five: check the paste for fluoride

Do you choose toothpaste based on the amount of fluoride it contains? If not, then it's time to start doing it. Dentists explain that it is fluoride that counteracts the process of demineralization of tooth enamel, which occurs in the oral cavity when sugar gets there (from the illusion that you don't get it, since you don't use it in its "pure" form, it's time to get rid of it). An adult toothpaste should have at least 1400 ppm fluoride in the composition, and children should only be offered baby toothpaste (and in accordance with age): when brushing their teeth, they usually swallow some of the foam, and the level of fluoride in an adult paste is too high for their body.

Step six: floss every day (or never)

Flossa is the best way to deal with plaque in hard to reach places between teeth. One caveat: doctors say that if you are not going to devote a few minutes daily to cleaning the interdental spaces with dental floss, it is better not to do it at all. Here's the thing: with the help of the floss, you successfully freed the interdental space from food debris, but at the same time, you also slightly disturbed the gums. On average, after 24 hours, plaque - the very sticky film that you feel when you run your tongue over your teeth - has formed again, and if you forget about dental floss for 2-3 days, bacteria can spread to your vulnerable gum. Flossa is great, but be honest about your ability to use it regularly.

Step seven: don't brush your teeth right after breakfast

It would seem, what is the problem? But the time of day when you pick up the brush matters a lot. Brushing your teeth should be the last step in your mouth before bed, and brushing is unusual from our point of view. British dentists advise, after you have brushed your teeth, not to rinse your mouth: just spit the remnants of the paste, foam and saliva into the sink, wash your face and go to bed - let the remnants of the toothpaste work in good faith for another 15-20 minutes while you fall asleep.

Brush your teeth in the morning as soon as you wake up to get rid of nighttime plaque and prevent bacteria in your mouth from proliferating after you eat something. This will help you go to breakfast with less risk of tooth decay. If the thought of oral hygiene after a cup of cappuccino does not let go, just brush your teeth again.

Step eight: chew sugar-free gum

Another big mistake is brushing your teeth right after you drink or eat something sour. In this case, it is better to use chewing gum rather than a toothbrush to restore the freshness and cleanliness of the mouth. Chewing gum will help generate more saliva in your mouth, which will naturally neutralize acid. Do I need to explain why it should be sugar-free? By the way, you can fight the destructive effect of an acidic environment with the help of calcium: drink a glass of milk or eat a piece of cheese - this will help neutralize the damage caused to tooth enamel.

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