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Brushing Up On Your Oral Hygiene: 6 Top Tips

03/08/2024

Although you might be in the habit of brushing your teeth, can you say that your dental habits are as good as they should be? We all live busy lives, and it’s easy to go through the motions when it comes to your morning and nightly routine and cut corners. 

You might pay more attention to your more visible teeth or focus on freshening your breath more. Or, you might only brush and neglect some of the other important elements of your oral hygiene. 

It’s sometimes good to revisit some of the basics of dental hygiene and work to put better habits into practice. 

In this guide, we’ll share six simple and actionable tips to help you look after your smile better. 

1. Fluoride is Your Friend

Most toothpastes contain fluoride, though some will have none. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which strengthens teeth and reduces the risk of cavities. 

Pick a toothpaste with a high fluoride level of around 1,500 ppm. 

2. Use a Soft Toothbrush

The enamel coating your teeth is tough. In fact, it’s the hardest material found in the human body. But just because it’s hard, it doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. 

It’s easy to assume vigorous brushing will lead to a deeper clean, but the reality is that you’ll wear your enamel down. Thinner enamel leads to sensitivity and increases the risk of cavities. 

Although brushing style is a big factor in how hard you brush, finding the right toothbrush head will make a big difference. 

Whether you use an electric toothbrush or favour the classic approach, choose a soft bristle. This will ensure your teeth are clean without wearing down their surfaces. 

3. Change Your Brush Heads

When your brush head starts to become worn and the bristles are bent out of shape, it affects their ability to keep your teeth clean. Swap your brush or electric brush head every three months or when it becomes worn. 

4. Make Morning and Night Brushing a Routine

There’s a good reason you were probably taught to brush your teeth every morning and night when you were a child. 

Cleaning your teeth in the morning is an important step in removing the bacteria that builds up while you sleep while also freshening your breath. 

Brushing at night clears away the food particles which bacteria feed on. Letting bacteria harvest on sugars and starches left on your teeth will lead to the production of acid, which will erode the surface of your teeth and lead to cavities. 

When brushing, take your time. Spend two minutes brushing and make sure you clean every surface of each tooth. 

If you have an electric toothbrush, it may have a timer to let you know when your two minutes are up. Some toothbrushes give you thirty thirty-second notices so you can break down your time across all four corners of your mouth. 

For manual brushing, it’s worth setting a timer on your phone to help you keep on track. 

5. Floss

Brushing only cleans the surfaces of your teeth. Flossing is important as it gets between your teeth where bacteria and food debris can become trapped. 

There are several ways you can floss. You might want to use dental floss, a fine string that you run through the gaps between your teeth. Alternatively, you could choose flossing harps or interdental brushes if you find them easier to use. 

Water flossers have also become popular recently. They shoot a fine stream of water into your mouth, and targeting the spray along your teeth helps dislodge anything trapped between them. 

6. Spit But Don’t Rinse

When you rinse your mouth after brushing, you wash away all the helpful fluoride from your toothpaste. To get the full benefit of your fluoride, it needs to stay on your teeth for a while. 

Instead of rinsing your mouth with water, just spot out any excess toothpaste. If you’ve been rinsing for years, it might take a little getting used to, but the taste of any residual toothpaste will quickly pass. 

Dental Checkups in Canary Wharf

At Platinum Dental Care, we believe that prevention is always better than the cure. We’re here to support you in your journey to good oral health. During checkups and hygiene appointments, our team are here to provide guidance on the best ways to care for your smile. 

Contact us today to arrange your next appointment.