To have strong and healthy teeth, to prevent infections or gum disease and to avoid bad breath, it is essential to follow good oral hygiene. This means cleaning and taking care of the whole mouth, not just the teeth. A perfect cleaning of the entire oral cavity involves washing and brushing the teeth, flossing, rubbing the tongue and using a mouthwash.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Brushing Teeth and Using Dental Floss
Step 1. Brush your teeth two or three times a day
The first step in cleaning your entire mouth and ensuring good oral hygiene is to brush your teeth often and effectively. Usually, it is advised to do it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening; you can also brush them a third time, after lunch, but never exceed this frequency.
- If you overdo it, you risk removing the enamel and damaging the gums.
- Wash them for at least two minutes each time. To help you with the procedure, mentally divide your mouth into four sections and dedicate thirty seconds to each.
Step 2. Follow the correct technique
When you brush your teeth, it is important to follow the best method to maximize the benefits and minimize the risk of damaging your gums or removing enamel. Start by placing the toothbrush at a 45 ° angle to the gums; then move it back and forth gently with movements approximately the width of a single tooth and continue to carefully brush the entire surface of each tooth with vertical movements.
- Do this for all teeth, without neglecting the outer, chewing and inner surfaces.
- To clean the internal surfaces, tilt the brush and rub it up and down on each tooth a few times.
Step 3. Floss regularly
Even if you brush your teeth thoroughly, the toothbrush cannot reach all areas of the mouth. Daily use of dental floss helps to remove any residue that is stuck between the teeth. Just like with the toothbrush, also in this case it is important to use the appropriate technique, to avoid possible damage caused by the friction between the floss and the teeth and the gums. Wrap some thread around the index fingers of both hands, so that you have a segment about 5 cm long.
- Keep the floss taut and rest it against the tooth to remove plaque and avoid scratching the gum. Gently move it back and forth; be sure to apply gentle pressure so as not to injure the gums.
- Maintaining a good floss routine and using it correctly allows for healthier teeth and gums.
- You should use it once a day.
Step 4. Choose the right tools
To brush your teeth correctly, it is important to have the right material. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits easily inside the mouth and allows you to reach all areas without difficulty. You should replace it every three to four months; if you see that the bristles are starting to wear out, change it even sooner.
- Combine a good toothbrush with a dentist-approved fluoride toothpaste.
- Check the packaging to make sure there is a dentist's mark or seal of approval.
- Do not use an abrasive toothpaste for more than two consecutive weeks, as it can damage the enamel and increase tooth sensitivity.
Method 2 of 4: Clean the Tongue
Step 1. Brush your tongue
The most common and easiest way to clean it is to use a toothbrush. Rub it on your tongue with movements from the inside out to try to remove the plaque and discourage the bacterial growth responsible for bad breath.
- Don't apply too much pressure while brushing your tongue.
- Continue brushing it four or five times.
Step 2. Use a special accessory
Although most people clean their tongue with their toothbrush, this accessory is actually designed to clean the smooth surfaces of the teeth precisely; the fleshy and rough one of the tongue is very different. Perhaps the best way to get rid of the bacterial film is to scrape rather than brush.
- If you think your toothbrush isn't quite as effective as you want, you can purchase an accessory made specifically for cleaning your tongue.
- You can use a tongue cleaner after brushing and flossing. It is a device that you can easily find in many health food stores, pharmacies and online.
Step 3. Understand the benefits
Although cleaning the tongue is rather neglected compared to cleaning the teeth as an oral hygiene measure, keep in mind that more than 50% of the bacteria found in the mouth live right on the tongue. For this reason, you should consider it as an important part of cleaning the entire oral cavity and should include it in your hygiene routine. It is believed that up to 80-90% of the responsibility for halitosis is attributable to the bacteria present on the tongue; therefore, thanks to good habits that also include cleaning it, you reduce the chances of having bad breath.
Method 3 of 4: Use a Mouthwash
Step 1. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash
This antiseptic product allows you to reach every corner of the mouth; however, you should never use it as an alternative to brushing or flossing, even if it is a useful supplement. Often people use it after brushing their teeth and flossing, but the order is not important.
- You should use mouthwash before bed to protect your teeth from bacteria when you sleep.
- The different products have specific indications on how to use, but generally you have to move the liquid throughout the oral cavity for about thirty seconds or a minute before spitting it out.
Step 2. Choose a medicated one
There are several varieties of mouthwashes that you can buy at a pharmacy or parapharmacy; that for therapeutic use helps reduce plaque, tooth decay, bad breath and other ailments such as gingivitis. Mouthwashes with aesthetic purposes do not have the same effectiveness; they can temporarily keep bad breath under control, but they do not act on the underlying causes and do not contribute to oral hygiene as a whole.
- Look for a mouthwash that has a mark or seal on the package that certifies its official approval from dental associations.
- Products bearing this symbol have been examined and tested by experts to evaluate their effectiveness.
Step 3. Know the importance of oral hygiene
If you don't take care of and clean your mouth properly, you risk developing infections and gum disease, tooth decay and even losing your teeth. The best way to keep your gums healthy is to properly clean your teeth and mouth using regular brushing and flossing. If you let the plaque take over, you can suffer from severe gum problems; if you don't remove it, it can harden and become tartar, a substance that can only be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist.
Method 4 of 4: Get a Professional Clean
Step 1. Consider professional cleaning
A surefire way to have a healthy mouth is to go to the dentist or dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning. It is a professional procedure that involves the removal of accumulations of plaque and tartar, making the teeth smooth and clean. Later, the bacteria have more difficulty settling on the teeth, precisely because the latter are smooth and "slippery"; consequently, the effects of professional cleaning are longer lasting.
Step 2. Know what to expect
The dental hygienist uses specific small dental tools, including a scraper, a brush and a mirror; he can then begin cleaning with an ultrasonic device that uses vibrations to move larger pieces of tartar. Next, use a tool to scrape the teeth and remove the plaque. afterwards, brush your teeth with a specific tool and toothpaste.
- After brushing, she can floss and explain the correct procedures to maintain good oral hygiene.
- If you have decided to undergo further fluoride treatment, the procedure takes a few minutes and is intended to strengthen and harden your teeth.
Step 3. You don't have to consider cleaning as a one-time occurrence
Undergoing regular professional cleanings helps you maintain proper oral hygiene and get used to respecting it. Consider seeing your dentist on time for regular visits as part of your mouth care program. Although some people are advised to do a thorough cleaning twice a year, recent studies indicate that once is enough for those with no particular risk factors for tooth decay or gum problems.
- Among the main risk factors for gum disease, consider smoking, diabetes and heredity.
- If you're not sure if you fall into a high risk category for gum disease, see your dentist.
