Dental Care

BRUSHING and flossing your teeth properly along with regular dental checkups may prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. Beside giving you a beautiful smile, healthy teeth and gums.

Most people spend a lot of money on beauty products like skin care and hair products instead, or pay regular visits to beauty centres, but only go to the dentist once every six months or a year.

One of the reasons they dread seeing the dentist is because they are afraid of the drill, but oral care does not have to be much work if you follow the simple steps above.

Dentists say the most vital part of oral hygiene and care begins at home. One is encouraged to brush his teeth at least twice a day, choose a good toothbrush, toothpaste and floss that have been approved and recommended by the dental association.

There are many types of modern toothbrushes available which work better to help keep your teeth cleaner.

Vibrational toothbrush help loosen debris in between teeth. Recommended is the Philips Sonicare Elite with its curved head which is great for getting around the back of the teeth and for powerful, gentle cleaning of the gum line.

Another type is the electric toothbrush with a rotational oscillation design. Although it costs more, it gives you a tangibly better results. An example is the Braun Oral-B 3D Excel which has bristles that spin in two directions.

Experiment with tufted, angled or rounded-end bristles and easy grip, curved or flexible-grip handles to see which type of toothbrush best helps you reach those nooks and crannies.

We have been reminded since young to take care of our teeth to keep it strong and healthy, so it can last a lifetime. On the other hand poor oral hygiene leads to cavity, and eventually the loss of teeth which affects how you feel about yourself.

Wouldn't it be better to prevent cavities before they begin?

Here are some simple tips on how to brush your teeth and gums for a beautiful smile.

* Get a good toothbrush that you can properly clean your teeth without causing unwanted effects like abrasion. The toothbrush should fit your mouth and able to reach all the way to your back teeth without any difficulty.

* Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gum line, and gently brush where the tooth and gum meet to the chewing surface. Use the same method to brush outside and inside surfaces of your teeth. To clean the chewing surfaces on your teeth use short sweeping strokes tipping the bristles into the pits and crevices.

* For the inner surface of your top and bottom front teeth and gums hold your brush vertically and brush it with back and forth motions. Lastly using a forward sweeping motion, gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove decay caused by bacteria that exist in these places.

* The minimum time you should spend brushing your teeth is at least three minutes twice a day.

* Toothbrush needs to be changed every three to four month or as soon the bristles get splayed out. Worn out toothbrushes lose their effectiveness and can no longer clean well.

* Some toothbrush manufacturers integrate color markers in the bristles which gradually fade out, indicating it is time to buy new ones.

* Use toothpaste with fluoride. It is the most common active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities, so you should always make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.

* At all times keep your toothbrush clean and keep it in a clean canister after use.

* Flossing is also important as brushing is not enough to remove the plaques and excess food particles in between your teeth. You need to floss these spaces at least once a day.

* Be careful when flossing to avoid injuring your gums. Insert the floss between two teeth. Using a back and forth motion, gently bring it to the gum line and curve the floss around the edge of your teeth, sliding it up and down the sides of each tooth. Repeat the process between all teeth.

* Visit your dentist every six-month for checkups and consultation to prevent new tooth decays and gum diseases. The dentist will review your teeth for problems and recommend the best solution to fix it without compromising your dental health.

Keeping your toothbrush clean

* Keep your toothbrush in a cabinet or use a toothbrush protector. Do not put too many toothbrushes in the same cup, or they will rub together and spread germs.

* The family toothbrush holder that holds multiple toothbrushes is not a good idea. Always keep your toothbrushes in separate containers to avoid cross contamination.

* Wash your toothbrush before and after use. Hold it under running water and scrub it with your thumb with force. Do this for five to 10 seconds.

* Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. For electric toothbrush, replace the head every three to four months.

* Always use toothpaste. This will also help clean your toothbrush.