Rules for maintaining oral hygiene. How to take good care of your teeth and gums at home

Careful dental care and oral cavity are healthy teeth. Healthy teeth is the ability to eat and chew a variety of foods. Eating a variety of foods is a complete and balanced diet because the digestive process starts in the mouth. And if there are problems with the teeth and oral cavity, so there are problems with digestion, which is not healthy. Therefore, it is very important to pay due attention dental health and oral cavity.

If you do not thoroughly brush your teeth every day, this can lead to the development of cavities. Frequent snackers need to brush their teeth more than twice a day. The fact is that the remains of carbohydrates after eating are "fuel" for bacteria and after 20 minutes plaque can begin to form on the teeth. Regular brushing of the teeth prevents the effects of bacteria that eat away the teeth before the development of gingivitis and gum disease.

• Keep your mouth clean. Inadequate care of the oral cavity and, in particular, the teeth can lead, at least, not only to caries (destruction of bone or tooth tissue), but also to gingivitis (gum disease), And periodontal disease (peridental tissue damage), and as a maximum to loss of teeth. Proper oral care and regular brushing of teeth will help to avoid all these problems.;
• Brush your teeth twice a day (morning and before bed). For smokers, it is better to brush your teeth three times a day, and after dinner eat an apple - apples, like raw vegetables, clean the teeth well from plaque and prevent the formation of tartar;
• Use a toothpick and rinse your mouth after every meal. Be sure to remove food remnants stuck in the teeth - in such a humid and warm environment, bacteria multiply rapidly and begin to “gnaw through” the teeth;
• Floss your teeth once a day. Even using a toothpick is no guarantee complete removal leftover food. Flossing will help to clean the gaps between the teeth more thoroughly;
• Visit the dentist at least once every six months or a dental hygienist professional cleaning and inspection. Regular visits to these specialists will prevent the development of diseases and, if this does happen, help to interrupt them for early stage. If loss does occur, insertion of dentures should not be delayed or dental implants;
• After brushing your teeth in the evening, it is useful to massage the gums. fingers or a soft brush for 5-7 minutes. In the presence of bleeding or inflammation of the gums and oral cavity, it is better not to massage the gums, but to consult a dentist.

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How to properly brush your teeth:

• Brush your teeth first outer surface, then go to the inner and then to the chewing surface of the teeth;
• Start with the front teeth, gradually move to the molars and back;
• Make not only horizontal, but also vertical and circular movements with a toothbrush (at least 10 movements should be made for each tooth);
• To prevent bacteria from getting under the gums, the direction of brush movement should be from the gums to the crown of the teeth;
• The toothbrush should be no longer than the width of two molars;
• Change your toothbrush more often, at least once every three months, and wash your toothbrush thoroughly after each brushing;
• To brush your teeth, use two types of toothpaste - hygienic and treatment-and-prophylactic. It is better to use hygienic toothpaste in the morning (since it only removes plaque and food debris), therapeutic and prophylactic - in the evening. Therapeutic and prophylactic paste contains fluorine and calcium in its composition;
• After brushing your teeth, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with a dental elixir - the elixir contains extracts various herbs, which heal small wounds and prevent the development of caries.

It should be said that the condition of the teeth depends on your tastes and habits. Worth giving up bad habits and foods that destroy teeth, supplement your diet with foods that strengthen teeth. Take care of your teeth - they're not nails or hair that grows back. Wounds on the teeth do not heal, and the extracted tooth will not grow back.

Oral hygiene is important factor in maintaining the health of teeth, gums, tongue and internal mucous membranes. Regular cleaning of the mouth from food debris and pathogenic microorganisms does not allow foci of infection to spread, spoil tooth surface and bring discomfort along with strong painful sensations.

Expert opinion

Biryukov Andrey Anatolievich

doctor implantologist orthopedic surgeon Graduated from the Crimean Medical Institute. institute in 1991. Specialization in therapeutic, surgical and orthopedic dentistry including implantology and prosthetics on implants.

I think that you can still save a lot on visits to the dentist. Of course I'm talking about dental care. After all, if you carefully look after them, then the treatment really may not reach the point - it will not be required. Microcracks and small caries on the teeth can be removed with ordinary paste. How? The so-called filling paste. For myself, I single out Denta Seal. Try it too.

By observing the rules of hygiene, a person excludes the possibility of developing various serious illnesses such as caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease and others.

Tooth enamel is a very sensitive and susceptible substance to destructive substances. Each person reacts differently to stimuli and resists them. But no matter how strong the enamel is, with age its thickness decreases, and it no longer fully fulfills its protective function.

Therefore, it is important with early age brush your teeth regularly, use mouthwash and floss.

Method for assessing the hygienic state of the oral cavity

Dentists have developed special technique to determine the degree of contamination of the oral cavity. To carry out the check, you will need dyes, a scale with enamel darkening indices.

The algorithm of the technique is as follows:

• dye is applied to the enamel;
• all surfaces of the tooth are stained - frontal, medial, vestibular and occlusal;
• the color intensity of each individual tooth is compared with colors scales.

Depending on the result, the level of hygiene is measured by points:

• 1.0-1.5 is an excellent indicator;
• 1.5-2.0 - satisfactory;
• 2.0-2.5 - unsatisfactory;
• 2.5-3.4 - bad;
• 3.4-5.0 - very bad.

Each dental clinic prefers to use its own methods for the enamel contamination index. Dyes, gradation and shades of the scale may differ, but the method of verification is the same.

Criteria for compliance with oral hygiene

The rules for caring for the oral cavity are simple manipulations that need to be repeated every day. From childhood, parents teach the child to regularly brush their teeth, the entire oral cavity. Then a person of conscious age will not think about the expediency of the procedure.

Let's highlight the criteria for compliance with oral hygiene:

• You need to brush your teeth 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening. This rule is familiar, but few adhere to it. People clean their teeth in the morning before leaving the house. But for the whole day a lot of pathogens accumulate in the mouth, which will cause inflammation;
• cleaning duration - from 3 to 5 minutes;
• The toothbrush wears out in 2-3 months. At the end of the period, it must be changed;
• choose a toothpaste according to their condition. An important indicator is the presence or absence of pathological formations in the mouth. Saving on this tool is not worth it;
• not only teeth require care, but also gums, tongue, internal soft tissues. There are dental products and devices that solve this problem;
• it is recommended to clean the oral cavity after each meal. Banal rinsing with water reduces the risk of developing an infection in the mouth by 80%;
• Have your teeth checked by your dentist every 6 months. So you protect yourself and prevent progression various diseases if they suddenly appear.

How to choose the right hygiene products?

To ensure high-quality cleansing of the entire mouth, you need to carefully select hygiene products. The standard set of accessories includes:

• brush;
• paste;
• mouthwash;
• brush for interdental space;
• dental floss (floss).

Consider in detail the requirements for each device and tool.

Ordinary toothbrush. The belief that it is best to choose brushes with natural bristles is wrong. Most of all, it is artificial fibers that meet hygiene standards. Each brush has a certain degree of hardness. There are very hard, hard, medium hardness, soft and very soft degree.

More than 50% of adults use brushes with an average hardness index. For children, it is better to choose soft villi. But the toughest fibers are designed specifically for smokers, their mode of action is more aggressive. That's the only way to deal with brown coating from cigarette smoke on enamel.

A toothbrush is a purely personal device, and sharing it with someone else is simply unacceptable. This entails the transmission of pathogens from one mouth to another. You need to change it often, because after 2-3 months of use, it turns from a device for cleansing the mouth into a hotbed of harmful bacteria.

An electric toothbrush. Sometimes people prefer an electric brush. It does not have any special advantages over a conventional tool, but subject to all the rules of use, it speeds up the cleaning process itself. Experts recommend it for use by older people who have problems with coordination of movements.

Toothpaste. This tool is divided into two types: hygienic and treatment-and-prophylactic. The first type is intended for most users, including children who do not have obvious problems with their teeth and gums. Medicinal pastes, in addition to cleansing, fight against pathological conditions of the oral cavity: caries, infections, inflammation, bleeding gums, dark patina and tartar.

rinse aid. main part this tool makes a decoction of medicinal herbs or vitamin cocktail. It is needed to consolidate the effect of brushing your teeth. After rinsing, a protective film forms on the surface of the enamel, which repels dirt and prevents them from accumulating.

Ershik. This device is suitable for people who align their teeth with braces. Food collects under them, and it is almost impossible to remove it from there without a brush.

Dental floss. When eating, food debris collects in the interdental space. They are affected different groups bacteria that cause decay processes, first of the food itself, and then of the tooth. To prevent this situation, you need to clean the gaps with dental floss every time after eating.

It has 2 types of section - flat and round. Threads with a flat section are designed for people with significant interdental space, and round - for tightly fitting teeth. Also, flosses are impregnated with various aromatic compounds to freshen the breath and improve the quality of the destruction of pathogens.

Irrigator. A modern device that removes plaque, food debris with a jet of water. Additional function irrigator - gum massage. It is ideal for people with crowns and bridges.

What are the consequences of poor hygiene?

Bacteria constantly live and multiply on the surface of teeth and gums. An excellent habitat for them is food debris and plaque. The cleaner the oral cavity, the less pathogens live there. It follows from this that the main purpose of oral hygiene is to prevent the accumulation of microbes in it.

The first bell of non-compliance with these rules is caries. Such pathological condition leads to softening and subsequent destruction of dental tissue. Then voids form inside the body of the tooth. In the absence of proper treatment, caries passes to the gums, and the disease receives a new name - gingivitis. The gums begin to bleed, itch, swell, then sores and bad breath appear.

Another cause of bad breath can be halitosis. It develops with total absence oral hygiene, when colonies of bacteria oversaturate the teeth, gums and soft tissues, tongue and palate.

Do you get nervous before visiting the dentist?

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Poor-quality brushing of teeth leads to the accumulation and compaction of plaque on the enamel, which eventually turns into stone. Against this background, the tissues surrounding the tooth become inflamed, redden, and the gums are in an irritated state. This pathological condition is called periodontitis. If it is not treated, the gums will no longer hold the roots of the tooth, it will begin to loosen and fall out.

In addition to observing the rules of hygiene at home, dentists also recommend resorting to professional hygiene. And there are two logical explanations for this:

• soft plaque can be removed using a professional tool;
• get rid of hard plaque, treat diseases of the oral cavity will help a qualified specialist.

Professional hygiene is divided into stages:

• ultrasonic cleaning to remove plaque and calculus on the teeth. It works on the principle of wave vibrations, does not damage the enamel, and is distinguished by its effectiveness;
• AirFlow method - a mixture of soda, water and air under pressure cleans the enamel surface;
• fluoridation - saturation of the coating of the teeth with fluorine ions.

Also, the dental hygienist, based on the state of the oral cavity, recommends means for cleaning it, gives advice on additional care for teeth and gums, tries to give the client as much information as possible in order to save the result.

The health of our teeth and gums is directly dependent on proper oral hygiene. The value of daily hygiene procedures is difficult to overestimate, but it is often easy to underestimate and pay with the loss of teeth even in young age. So the statement of dentists that one of the most effective and at the same time simple ways prevention dental diseases is the correct and regular hygiene of the teeth and oral cavity in children and adults, more important than ever. We should not forget that hygiene procedures should not be limited to just brushing your teeth at home.

Preventive oral hygiene is a complex event that includes daily brushing of teeth and a visit to the hygienist at least once a year. The fact is that in order to maintain teeth and gums in healthy condition it is necessary to timely and efficiently remove dental deposits, as well as thick plaque on the tongue. Food debris and soft plaque can be removed with a toothbrush and toothpaste. But the removal of tartar (mineralized dental deposits) is performed by a dentist using special tools and tools, for example, Air flow. Due to this comprehensive care for the oral cavity implies individual and professional hygiene.

Individual oral hygiene

Personal oral hygiene is most effective when followed certain rules how to brush your teeth. As you know, there are many ways - each of them is correct and complete, it all depends on our personal preferences. However, it is advisable to listen to the following recommendations dentists:

• always start brushing your teeth with the same dentition;
• follow a certain sequence of brushing your teeth so as not to miss any area;
• Cleaning should be carried out at the same pace in order to withstand the required duration of cleansing.

Of course, you need to pay attention to the technique of brushing your teeth. If, for example, you brush your teeth across the dentition, then the enamel will wear off over time. Therefore, individual oral hygiene must be carried out with observance of the technique of brushing your teeth (even circular movements cannot be made - they must be perfectly round). And in our performance, they are rather oval. Therefore, due to non-compliance with this important rule, enamel by about 35 years old is badly damaged, if not completely erased. However, if you are using an ultrasonic brush, all of the above is not relevant to you. In addition, do not forget that cleaning the tongue with special scrapers is a necessary component of oral hygiene.

Oral hygiene products

Oral hygiene products are a kind of multi-component system, which includes a variety of natural and synthetic substances, designed for both prophylactic and oral hygiene. therapeutic impact to the oral cavity as a whole.

The main means of individual oral hygiene:

• toothpastes, gels, tooth powders;
• toothbrushes;
• chewing gum(treatment-and-prophylactic).

Toothpastes are recommended to choose depending on the presence of certain problems or specific tasks. If you have had dental implants the best choice There will be toothpaste for implants. To lighten the surface of the enamel, you should pay attention to whitening pastes. But to strengthen the teeth, restorative agents are suitable, for example toothpaste with theobromine Theodent or Swiss Smile Crystal.

There are also additional oral hygiene products. These include:

• flosses (dental floss), toothpicks;
• oral irrigators (before choosing the best irrigator, be sure to study the main characteristics of the models);
• tongue cleaners: scrapers, scraper brushes;
• mouth rinses, mouth deodorants, teeth whiteners;
• denture treatment powders/denture treatment tablets;
• foam for oral hygiene (the foam dissolves plaque well and is indispensable where it is not possible to use standard oral hygiene products, it is enough to hold the foam in your mouth for 20-30 seconds and spit).

The unique, multifunctional JETPIK JP200-Elite device combines an electric sonic toothbrush, irrigator and dental floss. The accessories and the device itself are stored in a convenient plastic container, which is ideal for travel or storage in a small bathroom.

Oral hygiene is important not only as a prevention of caries, but also for free comfortable communication with others. Plaque-yellow teeth and bad breath won't make anyone attractive. Such aesthetic dentistry procedures as veneers and expensive laser teeth whitening will not make sense without basic hygiene procedures.

Oral hygiene is home and professional care behind the teeth and mucous membranes, interdental space. The procedure at the dentist should be done about 2 times a year. At home, brush your teeth every day 2 times a day. The evening procedure is considered the main one, since it removes food particles that have accumulated during the day.

Assessment of the state of the mouth at the dentist

Dentists use special indices to assess the degree of contamination of the oral cavity. The indicator is evaluated using dyes that are applied to the enamel. The procedure is absolutely painless, so patients should not be afraid of this test. The dye is applied to the anterior, anterior teeth, vestibular and medial surface of the elements.

The index is determined for each element in the oral cavity. The rating scale looks like this:

• 1-1.5 - good;
• 1.5-2 - satisfactory;
• 2-2.5 - unsatisfactory;
• 2, 5 - 3.4 - bad;
• 3.4 - 5 - very bad.

Each clinic uses its own methods for assessing dental hygiene.

Devices for the procedure

It is possible to effectively clean the oral cavity from plaque and food debris only when using the complex hygiene products. The list of care equipment includes several types of toothpaste, floss, brush and irrigator. These devices will reduce the number of visits to the dentist.

Choosing a toothbrush

The principle of operation of an electric brush is the constant rotation of a disc with bristles under the influence of electric current. The replacement of an electric brush is carried out as often as a regular one - 1 time in 2-3 months

There are two main types of product - simple and electric brush. Devices also differ in the level of bristle stiffness. With bleeding gums and sensitivity of the enamel, it is recommended to use brushes with soft bristles. In addition to them, dental floss and irrigators are necessarily used, because such products cannot qualitatively remove all plaque from the teeth. If a person does not have dental diseases, then it is better for him to use brushes with a bristle of medium hardness. The choice of an oral care appliance largely depends on the structure of the human jaw and the condition of the teeth.

Features of the selection of an irrigator

The irrigator is designed to remove food particles from hard-to-reach areas that cannot be worked through with a conventional or electric toothbrush. hygiene care carried out by a powerful jet of water or medicinal product emitted by the device.

There are several types of products depending on the principle of operation and dimensions:

• portable;
• running on water supply;
• stationary.

The smaller size has a portable irrigator. It works in the same way as an electric brush - from batteries. The device can be taken with you on the road and used at home. The stationary irrigator is large and requires connection to an outlet. For this reason, it is more often used in dental clinics. The simplest and cheapest option is a device connected to the water supply.

The choice of device type depends on the characteristics of the dental disease:

• for the prevention of caries and inflammation of the gums, any type of irrigator is used;
• to combat pathologies, devices are used into which special medicines can be poured.

What is included in the irrigator kit? There are several types of nozzles included with the device. They are designed to treat various parts of the oral cavity: gum pockets, lateral and anterior teeth, braces

There are practically no contraindications to the use of the device, but before using it, you should study the instructions. The device is not recommended for use with significant bleeding of the gums and the presence of wounds on the surface of the mucous membranes. If there are doubts about the possibility of using an irrigator, then you should seek the advice of a dentist.

Need to use dental floss or floss

The device is necessary for effective cleaning interdental space. The accessory also comes in several types: twisted, flat and round. Floss is used after home oral hygiene with a brush and paste. The thread must be impregnated antiseptics and wax. The size of the device is determined depending on the distance between the teeth.

Toothpicks and brushes

The main cause of dental problems is the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria due to poor oral hygiene. Pathogenic flora often lives in interdental spaces that are difficult to clean. To prevent carious processes, denticles and brushes are used.

Toothpicks are a thin wooden stick with one pointed end. Use the device carefully so as not to damage the gums and soft tissues

Brushes are different in design from a toothbrush. They consist of a thin metal base on which the villi are fixed.

Rules for choosing toothpaste

In the absence of dental diseases, children and adults are recommended to use preventive pastes. The composition should be changed 1 time in 2 months, so that there is no addiction to the components of the paste.

At pathological processes in the oral cavity, the choice of paste will be agreed with the dentist. For example, when gums are irritated, pastes and rinses with anti-inflammatory and decongestant components are required.

Algorithm for brushing teeth with a regular brush and paste

Proper hygiene oral hygiene includes two times the use of a toothbrush and toothpaste. Thus, the surface of the enamel is cleaned of soft plaque.

The brush is placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the gum and moves from the base of the gum to the cutting edge of the element. The movements are repeated up to 10 times for each zone. This method is used only when cleaning the front elements and fangs.

When moving to the cutting edge of the tooth, the brush is held at an angle of 90 degrees

To care for the side teeth, the brush is also placed at right angles to the teeth. Movements are made to the right and left for the front and inner surfaces. Remaining food particles between the teeth are then removed by flossing.

During the procedure, adhere to the following tips for oral hygiene:

• cleaning starts from the left corner mandible towards the front incisors, and after that from the central elements they move to the lateral teeth on the right;
• cleansing inside the lower jaw is carried out in the direction from right to left;
• the upper jaw is worked out in a similar way.

The duration of the procedure is up to 4 minutes. Before carrying out personal hygiene, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with clean water.

Cleaning your mouth with an electric toothbrush

Many patients prefer not simple, but electrical products. They cost much more conventional brushes, but, as practice shows, do not provide noticeable advantages in oral hygiene in adults.

The movement of the villi is carried out by a running motor working with high frequency(more than 50 revolutions of the head per minute). Electric brushes Dentists often recommend children who do not know how to properly use a regular brush. The same applies to older people who have problems with coordination of movements.

Rules for using floss

Flat products are more suitable for processing the interdental space between densely standing elements. The thread slides due to the action of saliva and special impregnating compounds.

Floss should be used in accordance with the recommendations for oral hygiene:

• a small piece of tape up to 30-40 cm long is torn off and fixed on the first phalanx of the middle finger;
• the tape is stretched and placed in the interdental spaces up to the gum;
• moving back and forth to push the remnants of food to the cutting edge.

When using the floss, the fingers of one hand are placed in the mouth. The thread is directed to the desired position with the thumb or forefinger.

Sometimes dental floss comes with floss. It is necessary to hold the thread in a taut position.

Rules for using the irrigator

Not all patients know what an irrigator is and how to use it correctly. The situation is complicated by the fact that products purchased on the Internet are not always provided with Russian-language instructions.

Typically, the product has the following settings:

• switching modes of operation;
• changing the number of rotations per minute;
• pressure control per minute;
• automatic shutdown after a certain period of time.

The device is necessary for the hygiene of the gums and hard-to-reach areas in the oral cavity. The use of the irrigator is almost always carried out in the bathroom, so before using it, you must make sure that the wires of the device or the battery compartment are well protected from liquid penetration. Some irrigators are additionally equipped with ultrasonic lamps. The radiation coming from these lamps contributes to the death of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.

Rules for using the device:

• Teeth and gums do not immediately get used to the powerful flow of water, so the first time you need to set the water supply to the minimum value. Increase pressure as you get used to it.
• First, open areas in the oral cavity are treated - the front teeth, palate, tongue, and then the side elements and the inner surface of the row are processed. Dentists advise patients to mentally divide the jaw into 4 parts and process each of them sequentially.
• It is necessary to direct water to the gums with caution, since damage to it threatens with serious complications.

Professional dental care

It should be noted the main fact, which is an indication for professional procedure- Inadequate oral hygiene carried out at home. As a result of such cleaning, soft plaque forms on the teeth, which subsequently hardens and turns into tartar. A person cannot cope with the problem on his own.

The professional procedure includes:

• ultrasonic cleaning. The method allows you to quickly and painlessly remove hard deposits from the surface of the enamel. The impact on the tooth is carried out with the help of vibrations. The ultrasound technique does not damage the enamel and has high efficiency. The method is prohibited for oral hygiene in pregnant women.
• Airflow method. With the help of a special device, a soda solution and water are ejected into the patient's oral cavity under pressure. The elements are cleared of plaque, tartar and become lighter by several tones.
• Teeth polishing with professional compounds containing zirconium microgranules.
• Fluorination. Caps with gel are applied to dry enamel for 1 minute. During this time, the tooth has time to absorb fluorine ions.

An important step in professional teeth cleaning is a consultation with a dentist. Doctor recommends certain kind oral care products suitable for a particular patient

Hygiene rules for children

The algorithm and rules for brushing teeth in children and adults are not much different. It is necessary to take care of the child's oral cavity from infancy. The gums of babies after each feeding are wiped with a cloth soaked in soda solution or with a fingertip.

Teaching your baby the rules of oral hygiene is necessary after the appearance of milk teeth. For a child, a brush with soft bristles and pastes with neutral chemical composition. The first procedures should be short - up to 30 seconds. Each time, the duration of cleaning is increased.

Parents should teach the child to squeeze a small amount of paste (no more than a pea) onto the brush. For additional hygiene oral cavity in children can be used special wipes, impregnated with xylitol. Substance destroys pathogenic microorganisms breeding on enamel and gums. These wipes are stored in the refrigerator.

Consequences of poor hygiene

An indicator of quality oral care is the absence of gum problems. The procedure helps to prevent various dental problems: development of caries, early loss of teeth, periodontitis, bad breath.

Failure to follow the basic rules of the procedure leads to the fact that soft plaque on the teeth crystallizes and turns into stone.

Hard formations cause the gums to detach from the neck of the tooth. Bacteria thrive in periodontal pockets.

Scientists have identified more than 60 types of diseases that manifest themselves as a consequence of improper home oral hygiene:

• endocrine disorders;
• dysfunction of the digestive tract;
• nervous disorders;
• kidney pathology;
• cardiovascular disorders;
• rheumatism.

Active reproduction pathogenic flora leads to the formation of a chronic focus of infection in the mouth. It affects work defensive forces organism and leads to the defeat of various internal organs. Therefore, comprehensive oral hygiene is important to maintain snow-white smile and overall health maintenance.

Needless to say, how important oral hygiene is. After eating, acids are always formed in the mouth, which negatively affect the enamel of the teeth - they corrode it. If acids are not cleaned in time, they form raids and accumulations, as a result, one can expect the formation of stones and holes. And against the background of weakened and bleeding gums, the situation is even aggravated. To avoid this, you must follow the rules of hygiene.

General rules for oral hygiene

• Minimize the use of lemons and acidic foods in pure form. You can drink tea with lemon, but do not eat fruit slices.
• Avoid sticky sweets like toffee. Such sweets are difficult to clean from teeth. And they often hurt their teeth:.
• Do light brushing and rinsing after every snack. It is not necessary to use toothpaste every time - just rub your teeth with a soft brush.

It is equally important to know that you need to brush your teeth 2 times a day: the first time after the first meal, and the second time at night.

• Chewing gum without sugar (it can be used to additionally clean your teeth);
• Tooth rinse (cleanses plaque and food debris);
• Plain water (for rinsing in the absence of other means).

Choice of toothpaste and brush

So that a visit to the dentist does not turn into a gum treatment or tooth extraction for you, choose a good toothpaste. They are usually divided into two types:

• Hygienic . They serve only to clean the teeth from plaque. Some of them additionally freshen the breath. But that's where their benefits end.
• Preventive . More extensive in their action - save from caries, protect enamel, strengthen gums. There are a number of herbal anti-inflammatory toothpastes available. There are a series of pastes with a whitening effect, it is better to use them rarely so as not to damage the enamel. You can also read an article about .

Choosing a quality toothbrush is another way to keep your teeth perfectly clean. All brushes differ in the degree of hardness:

• toughest (for removable dentures);
• medium hard;
• soft (for weakened gums and for children).

Proper brushing of teeth

In the absence of dental floss, try using a toothpick. With its help, you can remove point accumulations of food debris. Its only negative is that it can damage the gums, so proceed with extreme caution.

Hold the toothpick at a 45-degree angle to your tooth to remove food debris.

Oral hygiene in a child

There is no fundamental difference between brushing the teeth of children and adults, but there are still subtleties and some nuances.

In the very first months of a baby's life, parents should monitor the gums. After feeding, the gums are wiped with napkins soaked soda solution or fingertips with the same composition.

In order for a child to have an interest in brushing their teeth, they use special games, calendars and fairy tales.

Teach your child to take toothpaste no more than a fingernail of his little finger. So he will learn to dose the paste correctly.

As additional care for babies, you can use special napkins. They contain xylitol, which kills bacteria that multiply on the gums and tooth enamel. Such napkins should be kept in the refrigerator so that their cold relieves possible pain.

How to monitor the oral cavity with a removable denture?

The main problem with removable dentures is that you still need to get used to them. At first, while getting used to, you can get protection from irritation in the oral cavity. Special preparations help to clean the oral cavity additionally. As soon as discomfort go away with habituation aids can be cancelled.

The use of removable structures has its drawbacks. Because of the prosthesis:

• the natural cleansing of the oral cavity is disturbed;
• the circulation of the mucosa in the mouth changes;
• thermal exchange is disturbed, even diction and taste properties of products.

• Fixing creams and pads ( special means for artificial teeth)
• Powders with a cleansing effect (can also be purchased in the form of tablets);
• Cleansing brush for cleaning the prosthesis;
• Additional tools for cleaning artificial teeth.

• A special paste that cleans the interdental spaces;
• Brush for cleaning interdental spaces;
• A toothbrush with the softest bristles;
• dental floss;
• Rinse aid to strengthen the gums;
• Tablets to determine plaque.

• Clean your denture 2 times a day;
• Rinse your mouth after each meal, and rinse the denture under running water;
• Clean removable teeth in a disinfectant solution;
• Remove your dentures at night.

When the prosthesis needs to be transported, use a special container for this.

What are Oral Hygiene Indexes?

The most common index reflects the defeat of teeth by caries. It takes into account:

• carious teeth;
• Filled teeth;
• Extracted or to be removed teeth.

The level of intensity of development of caries is expressed as a percentage, where from 80% the intensity is high, and up to 30% is the lowest.

To evaluate the effectiveness of oral hygiene, a special test is carried out - staining the teeth. The index is calculated for each tooth in a special code, and then the data is displayed in the total. In the same way, bite, gum condition, aesthetic index, etc. are evaluated.

How can you use hygiene index at home and why is it necessary? You will be able to evaluate for yourself how well you take care of your teeth. For the test and objective evaluation, you need to purchase a special dye. It stains deposits on the teeth. The more intense the staining, the lower the assessment of the hygienic condition of the teeth.

What causes poor oral hygiene?

Most dental diseases are solely due to poor hygiene.

Caries and calculus are the result of the accumulation of plaque on the teeth. It is located even in non-obvious places:

• In the pits of the incisors;
• between teeth;
• Under the gum in the neck of the tooth;
• On the gums

Even if you regularly visit a dentist who treats caries for you, prolonged untimely oral care threatens to relapse the development of dental disease. Filled teeth will have to be retreated, and with them thoroughly deal with gum disease - periodontitis and gingivitis.

The accumulation of microbes in the oral cavity is not only aesthetic problem. bad teeth affect the work of the whole organism, causing diseases of the stomach and allergic reactions.

What is required to properly brush your teeth? (video)