How to brush your teeth thoroughly. Optimal frequency of teeth brushing

Good day, dear readers!

Today we will look at some dental care issues:

- Why brush your teeth?
— How to brush your teeth correctly?
— Rules for brushing teeth;
— Do I need to clean my tongue?
— How to choose a toothbrush;
— How to choose toothpaste and more.

Brushing your teeth is one of the procedures in a general set of hygienic and preventive measures aimed at maintaining oral health, because according to statistics, dentists note that today, the main cause of tooth loss is precisely due to insufficient or improper oral care, in particular, improper brushing of teeth.

Of course, most people are 100% sure that they know how to brush their teeth correctly, but, unfortunately, in practice, this is not always confirmed by the result when a person comes to the dentist for help.

To avoid fillings and pulling out teeth, let's once again review our knowledge, and right from today we will take care of our teeth so that they will delight us throughout our lives!

Teeth cleaning is a procedure that involves cleaning the surface of the teeth from food debris, bacteria and soft plaque.

Why brush your teeth?

The oral cavity is one of the most infected parts of the body with various bacteria. Insufficient or improper care for it can lead to disastrous consequences.

Food residues on teeth under the influence of bacteria undergo rotting, decay and fermentation. In addition, soft plaque releases acid, which destroys the enamel, resulting in the formation of caries. This harms not only the teeth themselves, but is a source of bad breath, and can also provoke diseases of internal organs and reduce the body’s defenses (weaken the immune system).

If you don't brush your teeth, the following diseases can develop: chronic inflammation of the gums, ulcers, and due to a weakened immune system - type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and even cancer.

How to brush your teeth correctly

Methods for proper brushing of teeth

1. Position the head of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line;

2. Brush your teeth in a circular motion from the gum to the top of the tooth (lower teeth from bottom to top, upper teeth from top to bottom);

3. Brush each tooth thoroughly;

4. Brush the chewing surfaces of the upper and lower molars with circular movements;

5. After thoroughly brushing your teeth, close your mouth and make circular movements with the toothbrush, grabbing the teeth and gums;

7. After cleaning your mouth, rinse it thoroughly with water.

Below I post a picture in good resolution, which graphically displays the method of brushing teeth. If you click on it, it will open in a new window in excellent quality. You can also print it out and teach your kids from it.

Rules for brushing teeth

- brush your teeth 2 times a day - morning and evening (after the last meal);
- brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes;
- alternate pastes. Do not use the same toothpaste for a long time, use regular or whitening toothpaste in the morning, and regular or gel in the evening;
— during the day, after eating, rinse your mouth with water or a special teeth rinse. You can also chew chewing gum, but no more than 15 minutes;
— before brushing your teeth, be sure to rinse your toothbrush with water;
- apply a small amount of paste to the brush, for children no more than 0.5 cm, for adults no more than 1 cm;
— while brushing your teeth, do not press too hard on the brush;
— after brushing your teeth, rinse the brush thoroughly with water and store it with the bristles facing up;
- When brushing your teeth, lean forward over the sink so as not to swallow the toothpaste, because some of them contain fluoride, which is toxic to the body;
- do not use toothpastes with a whitening effect to brush your teeth for a long time;
- Use dental floss to remove food debris and plaque between teeth.

General teeth cleaning

For better dental health, it is necessary to carry out general teeth cleaning approximately once every 4 days in the evening:

— brush your teeth with regular toothpaste and rinse;
- brush all teeth with floss;
— smear the gel onto the brush and carefully (like a brush) apply it to the entire surface of the teeth from all sides;
- We wait a little and rinse our mouth.

No brush can clean the space between your teeth, but dental floss can easily do the job!

To brush your teeth with floss, you must use only special dental floss, since ordinary sewing thread can damage the enamel or cut the gums.

How to use dental floss?

Tear off a piece of thread about 30 cm. Wrap the ends of the thread around the middle fingers of both hands.

Leave a piece of thread approximately 5 cm free, which you hold on both sides with your thumb and forefinger. Carefully move the piece between the teeth and with gentle movements, from the gum line, remove plaque from each side of the tooth. After cleaning the tooth, if the thread becomes dirty, use a new piece.

Do I need to clean my tongue?

Many people overlook cleaning their tongue, although bacteria accumulate on it just as easily as on teeth. If the tongue is not cleaned, then harmful microorganisms that adhere in the spaces between the taste buds of the tongue begin to multiply rapidly, and their waste products cause bad breath.

Adults need to brush their tongue in the same way as their teeth - 2 times a day. Children should be gradually accustomed to brushing their tongue, starting from the tip of the tongue, since the child may have a strong gag reflex, and pressure on the root of the tongue will be very unpleasant.

There are special tongue cleaners in the form of a scraper, and there is a tongue scraper on the back of the toothbrush head.

To clean your tongue, place the scraper on the back of the tongue as close to the root as possible and move it forward towards the exit, applying gentle pressure to the tongue.

The brush must be changed regularly.

Basically, a medium-hard brush can be used for 3 months, and a soft one for 1-2 months.

When choosing a toothbrush, give preference to brushes made of artificial fiber, since brushes made of natural bristles are unhygienic - microbes multiply faster in them, which can contribute to the development of various oral diseases.

Toothbrushes come in different hardnesses:

— very soft (ultrasoft, extrasoft). Recommended for children under 5 years of age and people with hypersensitive teeth;
— soft (soft). Recommended for children from 5 to 12 years old, as well as for bleeding, swelling and sore gums;
— average (medium). Recommended for children over 12 years old and adults;
— hard and very hard. Hard and very hard toothbrushes should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation. They can only be prescribed by a doctor and then for a short period of time.

Every person cares about their health and appearance. The condition of the teeth plays a significant role in this - many people dream of a snow-white smile, because this immediately stands out when communicating with a person, creating a positive impression. How many times should you brush your teeth in order to maintain personal hygiene at an optimal level, because a correct and comprehensive approach plays a huge role in this.

How many times a day should you brush your teeth?

In order to constantly maintain the optimal level, it is necessary twice a day with an interval of about 12 hours.

The first time is in the morning, 30 minutes after breakfast.

However, just brushing your teeth a day is not enough, so an additional hygiene procedure is necessary - in the evening, before bed, in order to get rid of bacteria and plaque accumulated during the day, as well as to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms at night.

For adults

Morning hygiene will remove plaque accumulated overnight, get rid of food particles remaining between the teeth, give the cavity a healthy, clean appearance and provide fresh breath until the next meal.

To kid

- an important question, because it is the habits established in childhood that can create a correct understanding of hygiene and caring for one’s health in the future.

The rules of hygiene for children's teeth are somewhat different from “adult” care.

Until the baby has teeth, the oral cavity does not require special care. As soon as you have a child, you need to start caring for them.

At first, you can simply wipe them gently with a soft cloth. There are also silicone brushes specially designed for babies and special pastes that are safe if swallowed. To begin with, you should start brushing your teeth once a day, gradually accustoming your child to the regularity of the procedure. When the child gets used to it, you need to add one more teeth brushing per day. The process must be supervised by an adult, explaining to the child the correct technique.

It is important not to cause negative feelings in the child by brushing his teeth; it is necessary to come up with some kind of incentive or encouragement.

About the dangers of frequent teeth brushing

Many people believe that the more often you brush your teeth, the better. However, this is not the case. You should not brush your teeth immediately after eating, as the enamel is weakened at this time and is more susceptible to destruction, especially for soda and coffee lovers. Also, frequent brushing of teeth damages the surface of the enamel, creating microcracks into which microorganisms can then multiply and cause various diseases. Also, during frequent brushing of teeth, you can injure your gums, causing all sorts of problems.

How to clean correctly

You should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth.

At first, until you develop a habit, you can use a stopwatch.

You need to brush your teeth with short, soft, “sweeping” movements, paying special attention to hard-to-reach places.

Each area of ​​the mouth must be thoroughly cleaned.

In the process of hygienic care of the oral cavity, several stages of cleansing can be distinguished:

• The outer surfaces of the teeth of the upper jaw, and then the lower.
• The inner surfaces of the teeth of the upper jaw, and then the lower.
• Chewing surfaces.

Some toothbrushes have a surface on the back that is specifically designed for cleaning the tongue.

Subtleties of choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste

Currently, there is a huge selection of different toothbrushes on the market.

When making this selection, three main parameters must be taken into account:

1. Rigidity.
2. Form.
3. Size.

Brushes need to be changed at least once every 3 months or more often (as they wear out).

It is also important to replace the brush after suffering pathologies, since pathogenic microorganisms may remain on it.

It is also very important to use a paste that suits the individual.

There is a huge variety of pastes suitable for any purpose (prevention of dental diseases such as or, increased or).

When choosing a paste, it is better to seek advice from a specialist, because on your own it is sometimes difficult to understand all the variety of assortments presented in stores.

Hygienic pastes

The simplest and most common types of pastes. They are suitable for all people who do not have problems with the oral cavity. Their main purpose is to clean and freshen breath.

Such pastes contain flavoring additives for every taste. They do not have any therapeutic effects and are suitable for daily oral care.

Sometimes such pastes may have antiseptic properties or contain microelements.

Pastes containing fluoride

Pastes with whitening effect

Such pastes contain abrasive elements that allow for several tones. However, it must be remembered that whitening pastes cause significant damage to teeth, and constant use thins the enamel, which increases sensitivity.

Treatment and prevention

Such pastes contain substances that have an antibacterial effect, which determines their therapeutic effect, which consists in reducing inflammation, preventing and preventing other diseases.

It is better to purchase such pastes in pharmacies on the recommendation of a dentist.

There are several types of such pastes:

• Containing extracts of medicinal herbs and essential oils (for example, eucalyptus or tea tree). They help relieve inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration processes. Thanks to the presence of essential oils, such pastes eliminate bad breath.
• Containing minerals and salts, they replenish the deficiency of macro- and microelements, strengthening tooth enamel, accelerating tissue healing. They also prevent plaque formation.

Alternative Oral Care Methods

These products help maintain oral hygiene between brushings:

1. or floss. Regular brushing helps clean the gaps between teeth and remove food debris, which is not always possible even with a toothbrush. It is also convenient and does not take much time. There are different types of floss available for sale.
2. . These liquids are very convenient to use to freshen breath, but they have several other purposes. Mouthwashes contain bactericidal substances that destroy bacteria that cause oral diseases. Many rinses are also aimed at preventing bleeding gums. You need to be especially careful when choosing a mouthwash for your child: many of them contain alcohol. These rinses are not intended for children. after brushing your teeth or eating. Rinse time is about 30 seconds.

There are many different devices available to provide the necessary dental care. You need to use them correctly and then the number of trips to the dentist will be much less, and smiling will be much more pleasant.

From early childhood, our parents taught all of us to brush our teeth. No one will argue that this is the most important procedure to keep the oral cavity in order. How to carry it out correctly? Some people believe that it is necessary to brush your teeth after every snack. Some people say that you should only do this in the morning or evening. From the article we will learn how many times a day you need to brush your teeth. It will also be useful to familiarize yourself with how to carry out the procedure correctly. This is exactly what we will talk about today.

Why do we brush our teeth?

In order for a person to strictly follow the rules of hygiene, he needs to understand why he is doing this. After all, not every patient thinks about how many pathogenic bacteria are on his teeth, tongue and mucous membranes.

Everyone knows that failure to comply with hygiene rules can lead to tooth decay. We see this from toothpaste advertisements, we hear from doctors and parents in childhood. But that's not all that plaque on teeth can lead to.

Leftover food can serve as a good breeding ground for microbes. They feel great, multiply, and cause tissue inflammation. And it is precisely those people who are not familiar with how to brush their teeth correctly and how many times a day this should be done that are potential periodontist patients. After all, if plaque is not removed in time, it will mineralize over time. Simply put, it turns into tartar. It cannot be removed without the help of a doctor. The formation of stones leads to inflammation of the gums, their receding and the development of various unpleasant diseases. After all this, the microbes gain access to the gingival, root and periodontal tissues. This development of events can lead to loosening and loss of teeth.

Dentists' advice: how many times a day should you brush your teeth?

What will experts tell us about this? All dentists claim that it is enough to carry out the oral care procedure 2 times a day (morning and evening). At the same time, doctors note that the hygienic procedure must be carried out after finishing a meal. Why? After all, it is after breakfast that the oral cavity and the surface of the teeth need to be cleansed of pathogenic bacteria. After a meal, harmful bacteria begin the process of reproduction. Leftovers serve as excellent food for them. It is advisable to clean after eating. This will prevent the formation of tartar and the development of caries.

How many times a day should you brush your teeth? Twice. We carry out the procedure for the second time between dinner and bedtime. At night, doctors recommend paying close attention to hygiene. Cleansing must be done not only using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Floss can be used to remove food debris between teeth.

Procedure algorithm

To achieve the best effect, it is not enough to know only how many times a day you need to brush your teeth. How to do this correctly? Every person should know the answer to this question.

In order for the procedure to be as effective as possible, it is advisable to carry it out in front of a mirror. At the same time, you can mentally imagine your jaws in a 3D projection. This will help make the movements more conscious. To cleanse the oral cavity of plaque and touch all hard-to-reach places, mechanical movements alone will not be enough. A person must see or imagine in which direction the brush head needs to be directed in order to remove dirt.

During the procedure, try to avoid sudden movements and excessive pressure. In the morning after cleaning, the doctor recommends a gum massage. And in the evening before it, it is advisable to use a special thread.

How long does the procedure take?

Patients often ask specialists: “How long should you brush your teeth?” It's simple. The procedure may take you 2 - 3 minutes. It is worth noting that this is the minimum time that is recommended for mechanical teeth cleaning.

If you spend it in the morning, it will take a few more minutes. Working with dental floss requires care. You can’t rush, because you can damage the soft gum tissue.

In general, it is enough for each person to allocate 5 minutes for the entire hygiene procedure. There is only so much time to neglect cleaning and put it at risk.

Why is it harmful to brush your teeth frequently?

Many patients believe that it is advisable to carry out hygiene procedures always after meals. Therefore, they say that the answer to the question of how many times a day you should brush your teeth will depend on the number of snacks. Dentists refute this theory. Frequent mechanical impact on enamel and gums, contact with paste will lead to disastrous consequences.

If you cleanse the oral cavity of plaque too diligently, you can cause drying and irritation of the mucous tissues. The only exceptions are those cases when a person has enjoyed a sweet or very sour dish. After this, you can brush your teeth again using toothpaste. The rest of the time, it will be enough to use mouthwash, dental floss or a brush without toothpaste. Experts also recommend the use of chewing plates. But don't get carried away with them.

How to choose a brush and paste?

A properly selected brush and paste play a huge role in the quality of the cleansing procedure. In Germany, for example, the patient acquires these attributes only on the recommendation of the dentist.

It is worth noting that the brush is chosen taking into account the stiffness of the bristles. It is advisable to purchase more than one pasta. Alternating abrasive and medicinal types is considered effective. So you need to have one tube of whitening paste and a copy of a drug containing fluoride, herbal extracts.

Dentists draw the attention of patients to the fact that you cannot purchase one tube of paste for all seven. Don't forget that everyone's problems may be different. Based on this, it is necessary to select a toothpaste and brush for each family member.

In the article we found the answer to the question: “How many times a day should you brush your teeth?” Now you can perform this procedure correctly, taking into account all the nuances.

In conclusion, I would like to note that regular teeth brushing should not be neglected. It may cost you too much. A negligent attitude towards one's health will certainly lead a person to the dental chair. In this case, the patient will have to face unpleasant moments in his life. Take care of yourself and delight the people around you with your beautiful smile.

People get used to brushing their teeth twice a day, morning and evening, since childhood. But brushing your teeth before or after breakfast is a topic of serious debate between dentists and hygienists. Previously, doctors insisted that the usual hygienic procedure should be carried out after breakfast. Now doubts have arisen about this postulate. Some experts believe that brushing your teeth should be done on an empty stomach. Both those and others put forward their arguments in defense of one point of view or another.

1. The amount of saliva secreted during sleep is much less than during the day. Therefore, overnight the acidity in the mouth increases, microorganisms multiply and accumulate more actively. If you have breakfast with unbrushed teeth, harmful microbes can enter the esophagus and stomach.
2. Due to unpleasant sensations in the oral cavity in the morning, you always want to thoroughly brush your teeth and freshen your breath before eating.
3. Toothpastes and powders contain fluoride-containing substances that protect tooth enamel from the effects of fruit and other acids contained in foods included in the breakfast menu. If your teeth are brushed before breakfast, it means they will no longer be subject to the destructive influence of external factors.

Many dentists believe that teeth should be brushed after breakfast; this will not only allow you to complete your morning hygiene procedure, but at the same time remove any remaining food in the oral cavity.

1. To remove food particles left between the teeth after eating, which can rot, cause an unpleasant odor and cause caries, you need to brush your teeth after breakfast.
2. Brushing your teeth after eating, thanks to the presence of antiseptics in the paste, disinfects the oral cavity and promotes the healing of wounds and microcracks.
3. If you eat breakfast after brushing your teeth, the food may seem tasteless due to the aftertaste from the toothpaste.
4. Proponents of brushing your teeth after breakfast believe that the microflora in the oral cavity does not change during the day. It is harmless, there is no need to brush your teeth before eating.
5. The mechanical impact of a toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste damages the enamel of the teeth, so they may change color after drinking coffee or tea.
6. If the toothpaste is whitening, then brushing your teeth with it after breakfast will restore their color.

How to find a compromise

While doctors are arguing: when you need to brush your teeth - before breakfast or after, it is better to choose the rational grain from both options and put it into practice.

1. Brush your teeth both before and after eating. This option is suitable only for the lucky owners of strong, healthy teeth with good enamel. If you are unsure about your teeth, it is better to consult a dentist.
2. Brush your teeth no later than half an hour before eating, and immediately before sitting down at the table, rinse your mouth with plain clean water.
3. In the morning, instead of brushing your teeth, use a decoction of medicinal herbs or a ready-made balm for rinsing. It is necessary to remove the plaque that has formed on the tongue overnight.

   Attention! Green tea is a good natural antimicrobial agent. You can drink a cup of it before meals and several times during the day.

4. Properly selected, high-quality, modern antibacterial toothpaste helps protect teeth for 12-24 hours from exposure to harmful environments, microorganisms, and acids.

Brushing your teeth both before and after eating – this issue gives rise to a lot of controversy. The optimal solution is to brush your teeth in the morning before breakfast, and after breakfast, rinse your mouth with water or a salt solution.

Whatever option is chosen from the two proposed, the main goal is to keep teeth healthy for many years. The quality of chewing and assimilation of food, and therefore the health of internal organs, depends on their condition. Everything else depends on the individual preferences and desires of the person.

You need to brush your teeth correctly

Doctors are sure that rarely does anyone brush their teeth correctly. The reasons for this are either laziness, perhaps a lack of time, especially in the morning, or ignorance of how to clean them correctly.
The recommended duration of brushing your teeth is 2-4 minutes. The movements of the toothbrush should be similar to sweeping, and at the final stage - circular to polish the enamel and massage the gums. Care is required here to avoid damaging the gums, especially if they are prone to bleeding. By the way, this is a reason to see a doctor. Perhaps this is the beginning of periodontitis.
The outer and inner surfaces of the teeth and the surface of the tongue must be cleaned. For this purpose, modern toothbrushes have a special part, the reverse side with corrugation. To clean the tongue from plaque, there are devices in the form of scrapers, spatulas, and special brushes.

Important! Dentists strongly recommend the use of dental floss to clean the spaces between teeth from microparticles of food. In this case, you also need to protect your gums from injury. Dental floss or floss is mainly made of nylon, can be flavored, with special impregnation, in different ways of twisting, flat or round. The method of application is simple: wrap the thread around the middle or index fingers of both hands, wrap the thread along the back surface of the tooth and carefully move from top to bottom, trying not to touch the gum.

After the procedure, you need to rinse your mouth with a saline solution or a special rinse from the pharmacy to further disinfect the mucous membrane. As a result, your breath and mouth remain fresher longer. You can eat food after rinsing no earlier than half an hour later.

This figure shows the correct technique for cleaning the mouth from plaque and bacteria. Don’t forget to brush your teeth from the inside and use floss to clean the spaces between your teeth.

Toothbrush is important

Particular attention should be paid to choosing a good toothbrush. Too hard bristles can damage tooth enamel and injure your gums. Too soft will not cope well with plaque. For children, the toothbrush should be small in size, with soft bristles.
Modern developments offer brushes with different directions of bristles, their different level arrangement for more effective cleaning of hard-to-reach places. There is a large selection, all you have to do is choose the one you need.

Important! Hygiene and proper storage of a toothbrush will protect against harmful microorganisms entering the oral cavity.

• After brushing your teeth, wash the brush with warm water and soap;
• store the toothbrush in a dry place, preferably in a case, to avoid the proliferation of harmful environments and dust accumulation;
• use a portable ultraviolet sterilizer to disinfect bristles;
• twice a week, disinfect the brush by immersing it in hydrogen peroxide or medical alcohol for a few minutes;
• Store the toothbrush vertically, with the bristles facing up.

It is recommended to change your toothbrush every three months. This is due to the fact that it loses its properties, loses its shape, and the bristles become deformed. The brush no longer cleans teeth effectively enough and is a carrier of bacteria. Some are coated with food coloring as a color indicator. If it becomes discolored, it means it needs to be replaced.
Improved toothbrushes include electric and ultrasonic. Their efficiency is higher than usual; they remove plaque and food debris better. It is preferable to use an ultrasonic brush; it has a more gentle effect on tooth enamel compared to an electric one. In addition, this brush cleans 5mm deep between the tooth and gum; it is suitable for cleaning implants and braces.

Toothbrushes are necessary for cleaning the tooth surface and gums from plaque, and it also allows you to massage the gums, which is very useful for the prevention of bleeding gums and subsequent various diseases.

Choosing a toothpaste

The toothpaste market is wide and varied. Sometimes it’s not easy to figure out which one to choose. There are a few simple rules:

1. Children under 6 years of age should use a children's toothpaste that is less abrasive and without additives or flavorings to avoid allergic reactions.
2. If salivation is reduced, then it is better to choose a paste with reduced foaming and special enzymes.
3. The tube always indicates the composition and purpose of the toothpaste: hygienic, therapeutic and prophylactic, anti-inflammatory, whitening, for sensitive teeth, salt, strengthening gums. This information helps you choose the right paste.
4. Pastes with increased abrasiveness and chemical components for whitening can damage tooth enamel over time.
5. Toothpaste needs to be changed periodically to achieve a better health effect.

Toothpaste is a product intended for oral hygiene, prevention and treatment of diseases. With its help, the oral cavity is cleansed; for this purpose, abrasive, antimicrobial, bacteriostatic, stimulating and surfactant substances are introduced into its composition.

Oral hygiene before and after meals

If you do not pay enough attention to oral hygiene, and not just teeth, before and after eating, the likelihood of developing a number of diseases increases:

• gingivitis - inflammation of the gums due to the accumulation of plaque containing microbes;
• stomatitis - painful damage to the mucous membrane in the form of ulcers;
• caries is a pathology of the hard tissues of the tooth, which leads to its destruction;
• periodontitis – inflammation of the gums around the tooth (periodontal), accompanied by the formation of gum “pockets”, the release of pus, loosening and loss of teeth;
• periodontal disease is a systemic disease that is confused with periodontitis, expressed in atrophy of the bone tissue of the interdental septa, and is rare.

To avoid such problems, you need to carefully care for your oral cavity by regularly performing simple hygiene procedures. These include:

• thorough brushing of teeth and tongue twice a day;
• rinse after every meal with water or mouth freshener;
• Using dental floss as needed to remove food debris between teeth;
• using an irrigator.

You should visit a dentist at least once every six months to examine and sanitize your teeth.

Insufficient dental care can lead to damage to hard tissues, which begins with the destruction of enamel. In the absence of preventive measures, the carious process spreads deeper and can lead to tooth loss.

What is an irrigator

A device for removing plaque and food debris from the oral cavity using a stream of water under pressure. It is also used for gum massage. Tap water is not advisable for use in an irrigator. It should be boiled or well cleaned, at room temperature.
Irrigators come in different models, portable and stationary. Irrigator operating modes:

• jet - under strong pressure of water, pieces of food are washed away;
• shower - lower pressure removes small particles;
• gum hydromassage mode.

Portable models are powered by a rechargeable battery, stationary models are powered by an electrical outlet with a set of individual attachments for several people. The irrigator does not replace daily brushing of teeth; it is recommended for use 2-3 times a week. Well suited for those who have dental crowns and bridges installed. Before using the device, people with cardiovascular diseases need to consult a doctor.

An irrigator is a modern device for maintaining oral hygiene at an extremely high level, which is preferably used after brushing your teeth with a toothbrush. Its action is to supply a thin stream of liquid under pressure into the interdental spaces, under fixed dentures.

Folk remedies for oral hygiene

Folk remedies for oral hygiene should be used with caution so as not to cause mechanical damage to tooth enamel or damage the gums. This especially applies to the recommendation to brush your teeth with soda or salt instead of toothpaste.

Attention! Traditional medicine for toothache recommends a decoction of sage, yarrow, and oak bark. Oak bark helps well with incipient periodontitis and gingivitis.

To eliminate bad breath - halitosis, it is recommended:

• rinse your mouth with 3% hydrogen peroxide several times a day;
• Dissolve a few drops of alcohol infusion of horseradish juice (root) in a glass of warm boiled water and use for rinsing;
• for the same purpose, use a decoction of herbs - mint, oregano, St. John's wort in a ratio of 4: 2: 2, 3 tablespoons per 0.3 liters of boiling water, leave;
• infusion of wormwood and St. John's wort;
• infusion with celery root in vodka – 1 tsp. per glass of water;
• 1 tsp salt for 2 tbsp. vegetable oil for rinsing;
• eat fried sunflower seeds;
• finish your meal with ground ginger - 0.5 tsp.

A natural antiseptic, parsley, helps relieve pain from stomatitis. You need to chew the leaf or rinse your mouth with its juice. Effective anti-inflammatory agents are decoctions of chamomile, calendula flowers, linden, and plantain leaves. Their use also helps heal wounds and mouth ulcers.
It is good to massage the gums using fir, sea buckthorn, olive oils, and tea tree oil. Horseradish and celandine juice in decoctions and infusions should be used carefully, in small quantities.

Questions and answers on the topic

Question

Does it make sense to brush your teeth in the morning, before breakfast?

Answer 1

The most correct option is to rinse your mouth before breakfast in order to get the right taste sensations while eating, get rid of detritus and dead epithelial cells that have accumulated overnight, and then thoroughly brush your teeth 30-60 minutes after breakfast.
If you brush your teeth immediately after eating, the natural component of tooth protection may be damaged (for example, salivary lysozyme, which is especially active after eating and “works” in the film on tooth enamel), may be washed away.

Answer 2

The gold standard is to brush your teeth after breakfast and before bed. It is also necessary to floss between all teeth. If you brush your teeth before breakfast, then only to remove the biofilm of bacteria, and after eating, clean them thoroughly. Before breakfast, brush your tongue well; the taste sensation will be stronger if the papillae of the tongue are not covered with plaque. And thread at the first opportunity, but at least once a day.

Answer 3

The digestive process begins in the mouth - and brushing your teeth just before breakfast can kill the microflora necessary for this. Most likely, this will interfere with absorption or, at a minimum, complicate it and slow it down; the body will spend more resources, and the stomach will modestly hint to you about this.

Answer 4

Lysozyme will not be washed off anywhere. It's just, let's say, an antibacterial enzyme that is present in saliva. There is saliva - there is lysozyme.
It's more about the pellicle. This is a thin film of salivary glycoproteins that forms within 20-30 minutes after brushing your teeth (when brushing, we “remove” it with a brush).
Dental plaque is, simply put, an accumulation of microorganisms on the surface of the tooth, including pathogenic ones.
So these same bacteria cannot attach to a “bare” tooth. They are attached specifically to the pellicle. That is, the formation of plaque will begin within half an hour after brushing your teeth.
This is why there is a theory that you should brush your teeth before eating. Allegedly, you “clean off” the pellicle and the MO has nowhere to attach.
However, a pellicle will still form over time (half an hour after cleaning), and during breakfast you will still receive carbohydrates (sugars), which are a substrate for cariogenic microorganisms. These CMOs ferment carbohydrates to produce acids. The pH of the environment decreases. Conditions are created for the demineralization of enamel - the initial stage of caries (it is very complicated there, you can write a separate answer). It turns out that if we have breakfast and do not remove these carbohydrates by brushing, they will remain in the oral cavity as food for bacteria. So it's better to brush your teeth after eating. If you find it unpleasant to eat breakfast without brushing your teeth, you can rinse your mouth.
And do not forget that brushing your teeth is not enough, it is important to do it correctly.

Conclusion

Healthy teeth mean good digestion, fresh breath, and a beautiful smile. Their condition is influenced by several factors:

• heredity;
• supply system;
• quality of drinking water;
• absence or presence of bad habits;
• oral hygiene.
  Brushing your teeth occupies an important place in this list, and when else to do it, before or after breakfast, is an individual choice for everyone. The main thing: do it regularly, carefully, correctly.

Oral hygiene is the key to health.

Excellent oral hygiene is the first and most important component of keeping our mouth healthy, the most effective method of preventing the development of caries and gum disease. Personal hygiene, and first of all, home brushing of teeth is something that depends entirely on us. Let's do this efficiently to get maximum results for our health and oral health.

Toothbrushes are a group of personal hygiene products; they are designed for mechanical removal of plaque, as well as massage of the gums when carrying out hygienic measures in the oral cavity. Today on store shelves there is a huge selection of manual (manual) and automatic (electric and ultrasonic) toothbrushes. Despite the great achievements of scientific and technological progress, proper brushing of teeth with a manual brush gives better oral care results.

How to choose the right toothbrush?

The most important parameter that distinguishes toothbrushes from each other is the properties of the bristles. It is desirable that the bristles be soft. These are brushes - “sensitive” (from the English sensitive - sensitive) or “soft” (soft).

If you brush your teeth with a brush with hard bristles, then 1-2 minutes of brushing will lead to microtrauma to the gums and damage to the enamel. Oral receptors signal this to the central nervous system, but the patient interprets this to mean that he has done a good job brushing his teeth. And with a feeling of accomplishment, after 1-2 minutes from the start of brushing, he puts the toothbrush aside. The constant use of hard brushes over the years leads to gum recession, exposure of the surface of the tooth root, as well as abrasion of tooth tissue in the area adjacent to the gingival margin (in this place the enamel is very thin - a few microns, it wears off quickly, then the brush erases the dentin, much softer structure than enamel). Patients who use hard-bristled brushes often complain of tooth hypersensitivity (pain from touching these areas or eating cold foods). This is a big problem for patients.

It is more correct to brush your teeth with a brush with soft bristles (soft). This eliminates injury, but massages the gums. This is beneficial for soft tissues. This cleaning can last 5-10 minutes.

Some people believe that natural bristle brushes are better because they are environmentally friendly. However, dentists advise against using such brushes. The fact is that a large number of microbes collect on them. You should opt for nylon bristles.

We brush our teeth correctly

Don't forget that good oral care involves brushing your teeth in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bed. Brushing your teeth after breakfast, and not before meals, will ensure that your teeth are free of plaque for at least half a day - until lunch.

The cleaning procedure should be as follows:

1) Cleaning the outer surfaces of the teeth. The bristle tufts should be positioned at a 45 degree angle to the tooth surface. Sweeping movements of the brush. We brush the teeth left and right on the lower and upper jaw.

2) Cleaning the outer surfaces of the teeth. The brush makes circular movements, simultaneously moving along the dentition.

3)Cleaning the internal surfaces of the teeth. The brush should make sweeping movements, alternately four segments: the upper jaw on the right and left, the lower jaw on the right and left.

4) Cleaning the chewing surfaces of the teeth is carried out with reciprocating movements (back and forth movements).

The entire process of brushing your teeth should take at least 5 minutes. This is the minimum time required for the components of the paste to have their beneficial effect on the gum tissue of the teeth. Only in this case, the paste strengthens the tooth enamel, preventing the formation of caries, prevents the formation of tartar, preventing the development of periodontitis. Brushing your teeth for less than five minutes is equivalent to brushing without toothpaste!!! We recommend having an hourglass in the bathroom, it will help you navigate the time.

Features of brushing teeth in hard-to-reach places

Now let’s move on to the most important areas of the teeth – contact areas. These are the areas where the teeth are pressed against each other, making them the most difficult to clean.

The bristles of a regular brush are not able to penetrate these areas; plaque leads to demineralization of the enamel and inflammation of the gums. As a consequence, the development of caries and local periodontitis.

For good hygiene of interdental spaces, special toothbrushes are produced industrially. These brushes have brush attachments of various lengths and configurations.

The brushes must be correctly selected in length and diameter (this is done by the doctor). Then the brush fully cleans the interdental spaces, but does not injure soft tissues. Also, brushes are used to remove plaque under the pontic and around the braces.

Cleaning with such a brush does not present any difficulties. It is necessary to treat each interdental space in turn. The movements are reciprocating.

Cleaning teeth in a dental clinic

Poor personal oral hygiene (daily brushing) and smoking are the cause of many dental diseases and also harm your image.

In such situations, the help of a dentist is necessary. Combined cleaning in a dental office, using ultrasound, and an air-abrasive method (sandblasting machine) will help restore your teeth to their natural whiteness and shine. After professional teeth cleaning, it will be easier for you to start a new life with a new toothbrush and proper brushing.

Be healthy!