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

Kies een zachte borstel met een kleine borstelkop. Vervang de tandenborstel elke drie maanden of eerder als de haarbosjes uit elkaar gaan staan.

Met een elektrische tandenborstel kun tu tandplak op een makkelijke manier verwijderen. De elektrische tandenborstel maakt de juiste poetsbeweging voor u. Zo kunt u zich beter concentreren op de plaatsing van de borstelkop in uw mond.

Use fluoride toothpaste

Breng fluoridetandpasta aan op een droge borstel. Zo ontstaat er minder schuim en houdt u meer zicht op het poetsen.

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
Houd een vaste poetsvolgorde aan. Poets de tanden in de onderkaak bijvoorbeeld eerst aan de binnenkant, dan de buitenkant en tenslotte de bovenkant. De bovenkaak poetst u in dezelfde volgorde. Poets tweemaal per dag twee minuten. Poets bij voorkeur na het ontbijt en voor het slapengaan.

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. 
• Begin met de achterste kiezen. Dan kunt u die niet meer vergeten. Ga dan verder met de rest van de tandboog aan de binnen- en buitenkant.
• 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 app GezondeMond. 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.. 

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