How to Keep Your Teeth Clean
Content
How to keep your teeth clean
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats your teeth if you don't brush them properly. It contributes to gum disease, tooth decay and cavities. Toothbrushing stops plaque building up. It isn't just about moving some toothpaste around your mouth, though. You need to concentrate on the nooks and crannies to make sure you remove as much plaque and leftover bits of food as possible.
Toothbrush tips
• • •
eplace your brush or brush attachment every three months. !ever share your toothbrush as this can spread infections. "rush your teeth t#ice daily #ith fluoride toothpaste for at least t#o minutes.
When should I brush my teeth?
"rush your teeth for at least t#o minutes in the morning before breakfast and last thing at night before you go to bed. !ever brush your teeth straight after a meal as it can damage your teeth, especially if you've had fruit, fi$$y drinks, #ine or any other food that contains acid. This is because tooth enamel is softened by the acid and can be #orn a#ay by brushing. Instead, #ait an hour after a meal before brushing your teeth to give your saliva chance to neutralise the acid.
Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush?
It doesn't matter #hether you use an electric or manual toothbrush. They're both equally good as long as you brush #ith them properly. %o#ever, some people find it easier to clean their teeth thoroughly #ith an electric toothbrush.
What should I look for in a toothbrush?
&or most adults, a toothbrush #ith a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short, round'end bristles is fine. (edium or soft bristles are best for most people. )se an electric brush #ith an oscillating or rotating head. If in doubt, ask your dentist.
What type of toothpaste should I use?
The cleaning agents and particles in toothpaste help to remove plaque from your teeth, keeping them clean and healthy. (ost toothpastes also contain fluoride, #hich helps to prevent and control cavities. It*s important to use a toothpaste #ith the right concentration of fluoride. +heck the packaging to find out ho# much fluoride each brand contains.
• • •
+hildren aged up to three, use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than -,...ppm /parts per million0 fluoride. +hildren aged three to si1, use a pea'si$ed amount of toothpaste containing -,23.' -,3..ppm fluoride. 4dults, use a toothpaste that contains at least -,53.ppm fluoride.
It's fine for babies and children to use the family toothpaste rather than a special children's toothpaste, provided it contains the right concentration of fluoride.
How to brush your teeth
The "ritish 6ental %ealth &oundation gives the follo#ing advice on ho# to brush your teeth,
•
• • • •
Place the head of your toothbrush against your teeth, then tilt the bristle tips to a 53 degree angle against the gum line. (ove the brush in small circular movements, several times, on all the surfaces of every tooth. "rush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lo#er, keeping the bristles angled against the gum line. )se the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth. "rush the che#ing surfaces of the teeth. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes #ith the toe /the front part0 of the brush.
•
"rushing your tongue #ill freshen your breath and clean your mouth by removing bacteria.
How to floss
&lossing isn't just for dislodging food #edged bet#een your teeth. egular flossing may also reduce gum disease and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line.
• • • • •
Take -7'-8 inches /2.'53cm0 of floss and grasp it so that you have a couple of inches of floss taut bet#een your hands. 9lip the floss bet#een the teeth and into the area bet#een your teeth and gums, as far as it #ill go. &loss #ith 8 to -. strokes, up and do#n bet#een each tooth, to dislodge food and plaque. &loss at least once a day. The most important time to floss is before going to bed. You can floss before or after brushing.
You can use interdental brushes instead of flossing, especially if your teeth are very close together and you find it difficult to manoeuvre dental floss through the gap. 4void using toothpicks to remove trapped food from bet#een your teeth, as you could cause your gums to bleed, #hich can lead to an infection. ead about #hy it's important to floss.
Should I use mouthwash?
Yes, using a mouth#ash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and help get rid of any last bits of bacteria or leftover food that you might have missed #ith your toothbrush. %o#ever, don't use mouth#ash straight after brushing your teeth. +hoose a separate time, such as after lunch. 4nd don't eat or drink for 2. minutes after using a fluoride mouth#ash. (any mouth#ashes contain alcohol, so they're not suitable for children, as they could s#allo# them accidentally. If you use a mouth#ash #ith alcohol, you may get a very dry mouth and dry, cracked lips due to the drying effect of the alcohol. You can avoid this by using an alcohol'free version.
Are plaque disclosin! tablets helpful?
Plaque'disclosing tablets #ork by dyeing plaque either blue or red and can be very useful at sho#ing you #hich areas of your teeth you're not cleaning properly.
4s the staining can last for some hours, it*s best to use these tablets at bedtime or #hen you're not e1pecting visitors.
"ommon #$As
ead ans#ers to the most common questions that people have about dental health, including,
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats your teeth if you don't brush them properly. It contributes to gum disease, tooth decay and cavities. Toothbrushing stops plaque building up. It isn't just about moving some toothpaste around your mouth, though. You need to concentrate on the nooks and crannies to make sure you remove as much plaque and leftover bits of food as possible.
Toothbrush tips
• • •
eplace your brush or brush attachment every three months. !ever share your toothbrush as this can spread infections. "rush your teeth t#ice daily #ith fluoride toothpaste for at least t#o minutes.
When should I brush my teeth?
"rush your teeth for at least t#o minutes in the morning before breakfast and last thing at night before you go to bed. !ever brush your teeth straight after a meal as it can damage your teeth, especially if you've had fruit, fi$$y drinks, #ine or any other food that contains acid. This is because tooth enamel is softened by the acid and can be #orn a#ay by brushing. Instead, #ait an hour after a meal before brushing your teeth to give your saliva chance to neutralise the acid.
Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush?
It doesn't matter #hether you use an electric or manual toothbrush. They're both equally good as long as you brush #ith them properly. %o#ever, some people find it easier to clean their teeth thoroughly #ith an electric toothbrush.
What should I look for in a toothbrush?
&or most adults, a toothbrush #ith a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short, round'end bristles is fine. (edium or soft bristles are best for most people. )se an electric brush #ith an oscillating or rotating head. If in doubt, ask your dentist.
What type of toothpaste should I use?
The cleaning agents and particles in toothpaste help to remove plaque from your teeth, keeping them clean and healthy. (ost toothpastes also contain fluoride, #hich helps to prevent and control cavities. It*s important to use a toothpaste #ith the right concentration of fluoride. +heck the packaging to find out ho# much fluoride each brand contains.
• • •
+hildren aged up to three, use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than -,...ppm /parts per million0 fluoride. +hildren aged three to si1, use a pea'si$ed amount of toothpaste containing -,23.' -,3..ppm fluoride. 4dults, use a toothpaste that contains at least -,53.ppm fluoride.
It's fine for babies and children to use the family toothpaste rather than a special children's toothpaste, provided it contains the right concentration of fluoride.
How to brush your teeth
The "ritish 6ental %ealth &oundation gives the follo#ing advice on ho# to brush your teeth,
•
• • • •
Place the head of your toothbrush against your teeth, then tilt the bristle tips to a 53 degree angle against the gum line. (ove the brush in small circular movements, several times, on all the surfaces of every tooth. "rush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lo#er, keeping the bristles angled against the gum line. )se the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth. "rush the che#ing surfaces of the teeth. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes #ith the toe /the front part0 of the brush.
•
"rushing your tongue #ill freshen your breath and clean your mouth by removing bacteria.
How to floss
&lossing isn't just for dislodging food #edged bet#een your teeth. egular flossing may also reduce gum disease and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line.
• • • • •
Take -7'-8 inches /2.'53cm0 of floss and grasp it so that you have a couple of inches of floss taut bet#een your hands. 9lip the floss bet#een the teeth and into the area bet#een your teeth and gums, as far as it #ill go. &loss #ith 8 to -. strokes, up and do#n bet#een each tooth, to dislodge food and plaque. &loss at least once a day. The most important time to floss is before going to bed. You can floss before or after brushing.
You can use interdental brushes instead of flossing, especially if your teeth are very close together and you find it difficult to manoeuvre dental floss through the gap. 4void using toothpicks to remove trapped food from bet#een your teeth, as you could cause your gums to bleed, #hich can lead to an infection. ead about #hy it's important to floss.
Should I use mouthwash?
Yes, using a mouth#ash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and help get rid of any last bits of bacteria or leftover food that you might have missed #ith your toothbrush. %o#ever, don't use mouth#ash straight after brushing your teeth. +hoose a separate time, such as after lunch. 4nd don't eat or drink for 2. minutes after using a fluoride mouth#ash. (any mouth#ashes contain alcohol, so they're not suitable for children, as they could s#allo# them accidentally. If you use a mouth#ash #ith alcohol, you may get a very dry mouth and dry, cracked lips due to the drying effect of the alcohol. You can avoid this by using an alcohol'free version.
Are plaque disclosin! tablets helpful?
Plaque'disclosing tablets #ork by dyeing plaque either blue or red and can be very useful at sho#ing you #hich areas of your teeth you're not cleaning properly.
4s the staining can last for some hours, it*s best to use these tablets at bedtime or #hen you're not e1pecting visitors.
"ommon #$As
ead ans#ers to the most common questions that people have about dental health, including,
