Is it enough to brush your teeth every morning and evening? Or do you need a lot more for good dental care? A dentist gives helpful tips.
Brush your teeth with the manual toothbrush for a few minutes in the morning and in the evening, done: Is that good dental care? Certainly a little more is needed for healthy teeth and healthy gums. But what should I watch out for? Electric toothbrush or is a manual toothbrush enough? And do I need dental floss, interdental brushes or mouthwash? Dr. med. Dr. med. dent. Veronika Krehn, doctor and dentist as well as training assistant in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the Hamburg practice Medi-Kiss, gives the stern helpful tips for proper dental care.
1. Dental care tip: the right technique
First of all, it is of course important to know when and how often we should normally brush our teeth. The expert says: “At least two times a day for at least three minutes” it should be. Both in the morning and in the evening, “preferably after dinner. Basically, however, you should wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth because of the acidity of the food.” With regard to the technology, Krehn explains that the bass technique is the right one, “from red to white. That means in circular movements from the gums towards the teeth and not exerting any pressure on the gums.”
2. Dental care tip: the right toothbrush
Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric or sonic toothbrush depends on a certain factor, says Veronika Krehn: “Manual toothbrushes are good if you have mastered the technology. I recommend one with a soft brush. Care must be taken with electric or sonic toothbrushes just to guide the brush and not to rub it additionally. ” Good brushes would do the rest by themselves. In addition, there are now also electrical and that can be connected to an app and show how thoroughly cleaning is really being carried out and where there is still room for improvement. In addition, such models also indicate whether too much pressure is being exerted. This can be helpful for dental care.
3. Dental care tip: interdental care
In addition to brushing your teeth, more is necessary for thorough dental care: “I recommend interdental hygiene three to five times a week, i.e. alternating floss with one . “Interdental brushes clean the interdental spaces effectively and are a useful addition to brushing your teeth. They can even prevent periodontal disease, as they effectively remove impurities. The only important thing is that you choose the right size and test beforehand which size fits which space. The colors of the brushes indicate their size. Mouth rinses, on the other hand, are not necessarily useful for daily dental care. They are often too aggressive for the oral mucosa. The dentist’s tip: “It is better to rinse occasionally with chamomile or sage tea.”
4. Dental care tip: Professional teeth cleaning
In addition to brushing your teeth and taking care of interdental care at home, it is also advisable to have your teeth cleaned professionally on a regular basis. “At least twice a year,” advises Veronika Krehn. If there is an increased build-up of tartar, it is even advisable to have your teeth professionally cleaned by the dentist several times a year.
5. Dental care tip: neutralize food
If you want to avoid discoloration and prevent your teeth or tooth enamel from being attacked after eating, you can also choose to eat in between grasp. “Either wait 30 minutes after eating and then brush your teeth as well, or chew sugar-free chewing gum for a maximum of five minutes, which will neutralize the food,” says Krehn.
6. Dental care tip: practice early
Another tip from the dentist: start dental care early. “It is important that you brush your toddlers’ teeth regularly so that the children get used to it. As soon as they can brush their own teeth, you have to pay attention to technology,” she explains. And then it’s time to stay tuned.
There is more information here.
