Brushing teeth

Good oral hygiene is important

Good oral hygiene keeps your teeth, molars and gums healthy. Brushing teeth is the basis for this.

Brush away plaque

To keep your mouth healthy, you need to remove plaque. This white-yellow layer is difficult to see and forms on and between your teeth and on the transition to the gums. Plaque is made up of bacteria and products of bacteria. Almost all of our food and drink contains sugars and starch. Sugars are added to many foods (e.g. soft drinks), but there are also naturally occurring sugars in products (e.g. fruit). The bacteria in your mouth convert sugars and starches into acids. Those acids cause cavities in your teeth. Dental plaque also causes inflamed gums. If you do not remove plaque properly, the bacteria in it cause your gums to become inflamed. Unremoved plaque hardens and calcifies into tartar. New plaque easily sticks to tartar. As a result, the gums become increasingly inflamed. The inflammation can spread and affect the jawbone underneath. Eventually, so much jawbone can disappear that your teeth become loose.

Dental plaque indicator

You can buy plaque indicators at the chemist's.

Dental plaque is often pale yellow in colour and therefore not easily visible. Tooth plaque indicator is a red dye in tablet form that makes plaque visible. After brushing your teeth, chew on the tablet and spread the dye over the teeth with your tongue. Then rinse away the excess dye with a small sip of water. The red spots on the teeth indicate where plaque remains. After some time, the dye disappears by itself.

Toothbrush

Electric toothbrush

Choose a soft brush with a small brush head. Replace the toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles start to stand apart.

With an electric toothbrush, you can remove plaque the easy way. The electric toothbrush makes the right brushing movement for you, allowing you to concentrate better on the placement of the brush head in your mouth.

Use fluoride toothpaste

Apply fluoride toothpaste to a dry brush. This will create less foam and keep you more visible when brushing.

How should I brush my teeth?

Place the toothbrush at an angle to the gumsInside of the lower jawExterior of the lower jawUpper side of the lower jawInner side of the upper jawExterior of the upper jawUpper side of the upper jaw

There are different methods of polishing. It is often advised to short horizontal movements make. Pay particular attention to the transition from the gums to the tooth. Place the brush at this spot at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Plaque will disappear by gently moving the bristles back and forth over the plaque areas. If you hold the brush at the end of the handle between your thumb and the tips of your fingers, you will apply sufficient pressure.

Brushing instruction
Keep a fixed brushing order. For example, brush the teeth in the lower jaw first on the inside, then the outside and finally the top. Brush the upper jaw in the same order. Brush for two minutes twice a day. Brush preferably after breakfast and before going to bed.

Polishing tips

Back of the mandibleBack of the upper jaw

• When brushing the lower teeth, pull the lower lip away with thumb and forefinger
• When brushing the molars on the inside of the lower jaw, place the brush under the tongue if necessary. This is the best way to reach the transition from the molar to the gums. 
• Start with the back molars. Then you won't be able to forget those. Then continue with the rest of the dental arch on the inside and outside.
• It does not matter whether you brush the lower jaw first or the upper jaw, but always keep the same order.
• Whether you use a regular toothbrush or an electric brush, also clean the spaces between your teeth with floss, toothpicks or interdental brushes. Choose the aids in consultation with your dentist or dental hygienist.

Note: excessive or incorrect use of oral hygiene aids can cause damage to teeth and gums.

Want to know more?

Then download the free GezondeMond app. The app is available for Android and tablets, available via Google Play. The app for iPhone and iPad can be found in the iTunes App Store.. 

<< Back© Ivory Cross