We all know it's important to make sure to brush our teeth twice a day, morning and evening. But what is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you start the morning by drinking coffee, or try to “speed up” your metabolism by drinking water with lemon? Do you eat breakfast and brush your teeth afterwards to remove food residues and start your day with fresh and pleasant breath? If you answered yes to the above questions, you might want to recalculate your route.
During the night, the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases and a layer of bacteria accumulates on the teeth. Those bacteria can use sugars in food and drinks and produce acid that harms the teeth (that is, cause cavities). Therefore, it is recommended to brush teeth before the meal, since the brushing action encourages saliva secretion and removes the bacterial layer. In addition, the fluoride in the toothpaste strengthens the enamel layer and helps protect it from the acids secreted by the bacteria.
If you are still not convinced and prefer not to affect the taste of coffee and food with toothpaste, it is recommended to wait about 30 minutes after the meal before starting to brush, in order to reduce the damage to the tooth material caused by eating acidic foods and drinks combined with brushing. If you cannot wait, it is recommended to at least rinse your mouth well with water to neutralize the acidity before brushing. Brushing in an acidic mouth environment may increase tooth erosion.
Is brushing hard with a hard-bristled toothbrush better brushing that helps prevent gum disease and cavities?
In fact, the opposite is true. Aggressive brushing with uncontrolled force injures the gums in the short term, and in the long term may cause gum recession, root exposure, damage to the tooth material and its weakening, and the appearance of tooth sensitivity.
To avoid these effects, it is important to choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, with a head size that fits the size of the mouth. During brushing, moderate force should be applied, which does not cause the bristles to bend or flatten. It is essential to brush all sides of the teeth for about two minutes.
Important! Do not get too attached to your toothbrush; according to ADA guidelines, you must replace your toothbrush every three months, or when the bristles begin to separate and point in different directions.
How to choose a good toothpaste?
Always choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which protects and strengthens the tooth material. It is recommended not to rinse the mouth with water at the end of brushing, but to spit out the remnants of the toothpaste. The brushing action removes the bacterial layer and food residues and exposes the tooth surfaces to the beneficial effect of the active ingredients in the toothpaste (fluoride, etc.), therefore it is important to allow these ingredients to remain in the oral cavity.
Don’t settle for brushing your teeth only
Toothbrush bristles do not reach the areas between adjacent teeth, and the layer of bacteria and food residues are not removed by brushing. Therefore, additional cleaning tools should also be used, such as dental floss, interdental brushes, anatomical toothpicks, and more. Consult your dentist or dental hygienist to choose the tools most suitable for you, and don’t be shy to ask for guidance — incorrect use of these tools may cause pain and gum bleeding during use and may even cause long-term damage.
Do you use mouthwash? Very good. Mouthwash does not replace brushing and daily use of dental floss, but it is recommended to integrate it into your dental care routine. Similar to cleaning tools, mouthwash acts in areas not accessible to the toothbrush. Unlike brushing, there is no problem using mouthwash close to eating or drinking. Using mouthwash helps neutralize acidity in the oral cavity, protects the tooth material and refreshes the breath. For best effect, use mouthwash that contains fluoride. Even after using mouthwash, it is not recommended to rinse the mouth with water.
Another important habit is brushing the tongue. Brushing the back of the tongue removes the bacterial layer that builds up on it, dead cells and debris that cause bad breath. A high amount of bacteria on the tongue may lead to the development of gum disease, bad breath, cavities and systemic diseases (heart and blood vessel diseases, diabetes and more).
Do you chew gum after a meal? If it's sugar-free gum, the chewing action may benefit oral health and help prevent cavities. Chewing gum encourages saliva secretion, which rinses the mouth and reduces acidity in the oral cavity. In addition, it removes food residues that accumulate during the meal and reduces bad breath. It is recommended to chew gum for no more than 20 minutes to avoid damaging the jaw joints.
In summary, another important habit worth adopting is attending routine check-ups with a dentist and maintenance treatments with a dental hygienist. Dentists will be happy to see you and perform periodic examinations of the oral cavity at least once a year, even when there is no complaint and no pain. One of the important goals of modern dentistry is the prevention of diseases and complications, alongside the repair of existing damage. Attending periodic check-ups and applying the dentist’s recommendations will help you maintain oral health for years and save you many expenses on dental treatments.
Dr. Helena Zelikman is an oral rehabilitation specialist at Maccabident.