What happens if you brush your teeth every day. How to teach a child to brush their teeth

Date: 15.04.2019

Updated date: 06.12.2018

Date of publication: 07.03.2016

Chief editor of the site

Education: Faculty of Philology, Moscow State Pedagogical University, specializing in "Journalist", Faculty of Journalism, Moscow State University, specializing in "Editor"

Why brush your teeth? The answer is obvious. However, even people who regularly brush their teeth have some kind of oral problems. Why is this happening? Maybe they are brushing their teeth incorrectly?

Why brush your teeth?

The oral cavity, which actually contains the teeth, is the most infected of all cavities human body, insufficient care of which can lead to sad consequences. Food residues under the influence of bacteria will undergo decay, rotting and fermentation. In addition, soft plaque will release acid that will destroy the enamel, resulting in tooth decay. All this harms not only the teeth, but can also provoke diseases. internal organs, reduce the body's defenses and become.

Do I need to brush my teeth? Of course, it's up to you to decide. Even ancient people, not knowing about the danger of caries, tried to clean their teeth after eating with the help of homemade toothpicks in the form of grass stalks and chewed sticks. Unfortunately, during the entire existence of mankind, it has not been possible to teach everyone to take care of the oral cavity. It is still not uncommon for "specimens" who believe that brushing your teeth is a completely useless exercise. For example, in China, half of the rural population has never even held a toothbrush in their hands. It is clear that the payment for such negligence is the loss of teeth, and a toothless person has never been an example to follow in developed societies.

Improper brushing of your teeth is a huge phenomenon. Almost all of us do not know how to brush our teeth properly. Despite the seeming simplicity of the process, there are a lot of "nominal" methods of cleaning teeth in the world. All of them differ in the nature of the movements, the sequence and position of the brush relative to the dentition or gums. For example, the famous dentist Reite suggested placing the toothbrush at a 90-degree angle, and Stillman distinguished himself by recommending that when brushing teeth, press on the gums as hard as possible. Fortunately, modern dentists have taken only all the best from the works of their colleagues and reduced it to several general rules exactly how to brush your teeth:

The cleaning itself should last at least 3 minutes;
Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and gums;
In order not to spread microbes throughout the oral cavity, it is recommended to divide the procedure into two parts: first, clean the lower dentition, and then the upper one;
You should start with the front teeth, gradually moving towards the back;
The lower teeth are cleaned from bottom to top, and the upper ones - from top to bottom;
The chewing surface of the teeth is processed in a circular motion;
After rinsing your mouth, be sure to brush your tongue, which also harbors enough germs. Remember that the tongue is coated with plaque, which is as much a breeding ground for germs as deposits on the teeth;
At the end of the procedure, it is recommended to use mouth rinses;

It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day: after breakfast and dinner. This is a classic in oral hygiene. But it is no secret that the habit of carrying out hygiene procedures before a morning meal is not so uncommon. Many older people are accustomed to brushing their teeth in the morning just before meals. They will have to do it after breakfast, or change their habit. Since no one can brush their teeth in a dream, in the evening, brushing is carried out at the end of dinner or the last meal. Of course, ideally, you need to brush your teeth even after lunch, but there are not always opportunities for this. You can get out of the situation simply by rinsing your mouth or chewing gum for 10 minutes, but no longer!

I brush my teeth with this brush

A good toothbrush plays a key role in maintaining oral hygiene. So you need to choose it carefully. The first thing to focus on is the degree of rigidity. For those who are confident in the strength of their gums, hard toothbrushes can be used. Their hardness provides the most powerful plaque removal. But soft toothbrushes should be preferred in case of a predisposition to bleeding gums, so as not to injure them further. If this problem worries you a lot, you should consider starting treatment for gingivitis. But the most versatile in use are brushes of medium hardness. They suit most people. Remember that the cleaning head of a toothbrush should not be large, or its effectiveness will decrease.

When choosing between a regular brush and an electric one, be aware that experts have not proven which one will be most beneficial for your teeth. The definite plus of the electric brush is that it is easier to use, and also more convenient for the elderly and children. Otherwise, its usefulness depends on how you handle it. The most effective is considered to be an ultrasonic brush. It usually has several ultrasound frequencies, which allows it to kill bacteria not only on the surface, but also at a depth of 5 mm under the gum. This will be a good addition to the complex of measures for the treatment of periodontitis. Any, even the best, toothbrush should be changed every 3-4 months.

What toothpaste to brush your teeth with?

The main purpose of toothpastes is to enhance the cleaning effect of the mechanical action of the toothbrush on the teeth. Therefore, they are based on foaming agents and abrasive substances. However, toothpastes not only help cleanse the surface of the teeth, but also have a preventive and therapeutic effect, for which they add active substances... Many people wonder what kind of toothpaste is best for brushing their teeth. The answer is simple - the one that suits you best.

When choosing a paste, you need to focus on the problems that bother you. For example, non-abrasive potassium chloride or strontium chloride pastes are suitable for people with sensitive teeth. For those with gum problems, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial toothpastes are recommended. For the general prevention of caries and periodontal disease, each of us should brush our teeth with fluoride-containing toothpastes. But you shouldn't use them all the time. Fluoride pastes should be alternated with fluoride-free pastes, which will also be useful for people with fluorosis (dental disease caused by an excess of fluoride in drinking water).

An important point! To fully clean your teeth, just a 5 mm strip of toothpaste is enough.

Can i brush my teeth with baking soda?

In addition to conventional toothpastes, so-called folk remedies... The most popular of these is baking soda. Due to its high abrasive properties, it is believed that this tool can help whiten teeth at home. You will undoubtedly achieve a whitening effect, but only due to the fact that the soda literally rips off the top layer of enamel. Similar results can be obtained if you brush your teeth with charcoal, although it has disinfecting properties.

There are those who believe that you can brush your teeth with salt, as it has a lot of useful elements. Salt may help remove plaque and, in some cases, tartar, but negative factors should also be taken into account. Firstly, it must be very finely ground, and, secondly, you need to remember that your enamel is not eternal and it is also undesirable to expose it to daily salt exposure. Generally, modern dentistry is of the opinion that brushing your teeth should be as gentle as possible. Most dentists strongly discourage the use of the aforementioned remedies.

How to properly brush your teeth with braces?

For those who wear braces, regular and high-quality teeth cleaning is an absolute must. Since the iron braces and arcs make it difficult to access the tooth surface, "braces" have their own rules for caring for braces and the oral cavity. You will have to clean up after each meal, using various devices in the form of special brushes, brushes, dental floss and an irrigator.

Highlights of brushing teeth with braces:

Use a dedicated V-bristled orthodontic brush.
Place the brush at a 45 ° angle to the gum and, using gentle pressure, in short back and forth strokes, brush each tooth separately for about 10 seconds.
Go over the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth, making sure the brush reaches the outermost posterior teeth.
Use a brush to clean braces and hard-to-reach surfaces between braces and teeth.
Use floss to clean the interdental spaces.
Finish brushing with a mouthwash.
For hard-to-reach areas, use a dental irrigator.

Features of brushing teeth with restorative structures

Compliance with the rules of oral hygiene is of great importance in cases where there are various kinds of restorations in the mouth - such as veneers, lumineers and crowns, as well as bridges and implants. Plaque accumulates on artificial surfaces no less than on natural teeth, and sometimes even more. In addition, the patient's further health depends on the quality of oral hygiene. For example, if teeth cleaning is neglected in the case of implantation, inflammation and implant rejection can occur. As for bridges, the space between the bridge and the gum will require careful maintenance.

In the case of ceramic veneers and lumineers, hygiene is equally important. On the border between them and the native enamel, food debris can accumulate and plaque can form, which, ultimately, can lead to tooth decay. The danger lies in the fact that under the thinnest plates, which are veneers and lumineers, you may not notice how the carious process develops. For artificial restorations, irrigators will also be useful - special devices that, using the pressure of water, help to clean even the most inaccessible places. In addition, the device heals the gums and generally improves the efficiency of oral hygiene. Today manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of models, so you can choose an irrigator for any needs and budget.

No matter how thoroughly and regularly we brush our teeth, it is still not enough. Once every six months or a year, it is necessary to visit a hygienist's office, where using ultrasound and sandblasting machines such as Air Flow teeth undergo a general treatment, and their owner gains a confident and beautiful smile!

Publisher: Expert Journal of Dentistry website

Everyone has probably heard about the need for oral hygiene. However, not everyone is able to tell you how to brush your teeth properly. Moreover, it often happens that people do not take care of their teeth, referring to the example of the older generation, and what this will lead to, do not think. The purpose of this article is to talk about the need for such cleaning, familiarize with its rules and reveal important nuances.

Why is it necessary

You can effectively chew food and maintain a beautiful smile only with healthy teeth... Cleaning helps keep them that way. The fact is that 2-3 hours after eating, a soft plaque forms on the teeth. It is based on chaotically located food debris and bacterial cells. The latter are responsible for the release of propionic, formic and butyric acids, which are dangerous for the condition of the tooth enamel.

If you neglect the constant brushing of your teeth, then the bacteria in the oral cavity begin to multiply rapidly, subsequently forming plaque.

During the first days from the date of formation, the plaque does not have close contact with the enamel and can be cleaned off. Then it becomes denser, and the bacteria contained in it continue to multiply, which leads to sad consequences. And if long time do not brush your teeth:

Soft plaque becomes tartar - yellow-brown deposits that contribute to the development of disease-causing processes in the oral cavity. Often accompanied by nasty breath and bleeding gums.
Constant contact with plaque leads to tooth decay. There are four forms of it. The first is a carious spot, when the enamel has not yet been destroyed, but is already becoming cloudy. The second is superficial, accompanied by dark pigmentation and softening of the enamel. Outwardly, such a lesion has the form of a spot with a rough bottom, brown or dirty gray. The third is medium, when enamel and dentin are affected. The fourth is deep, when all the tissues of the tooth are affected, or the latter is completely destroyed. In caries, an acute course is distinguished - with simultaneous damage to a number of teeth, as well as an acute one - with damage to almost all teeth with several lesions in each. Often, caries is accompanied by acute pain when the affected tooth comes into contact with sour, cold or sweet foods.
Another consequence of constant contact with plaque is inflammation in the gum tissue. The gums become looser, their connection with the teeth is broken, the plaque penetrates even deeper. As a result, periodontal disease occurs, accompanied by a nasty breath, bleeding gums, loose teeth and pus.

It happens that a person keeps teeth in almost perfect condition, completely neglecting their hygiene, but there are very few such examples. Everyone else needs to brush their teeth from an early age.

When to start brushing your baby's teeth

Many dads and mothers begin to monitor the oral hygiene of their child from the age of 5-6, when milk teeth are replaced by molars, but this approach is incorrect. It is necessary to get used to it already when the first teeth erupt: at the age of 3 to 6 months. The procedure is carried out 30-40 minutes after feeding. To do this, use a clean gauze. One of the parents washes his hands thoroughly, and moistens the gauze in warm boiled water. Then he wraps it around the index finger and gently massages the child's gums in a circular motion. Instead of gauze, you can use a finger brush - a rubber cap with bristles or tubercles. There is also a teething brush that a child can hold on his own: her safety disk will not allow himself to be harmed.

Finger toothbrushes for babies are usually made of silicone

When a child has the first incisors, and this usually happens from 8 months, it is time to give him a special children's toothbrush, and at different stages of the formation of the skill it is different:

To teach your baby to stay in the mouth foreign object, use brushes designed for ages 6 to 8 months. They are shaped like a nipple with rubber bristles, which is easy enough to give.
To practice the movements, use brushes designed for ages from 8 months to 1 year. Outwardly, they resemble the previous form, but have a longer neck.
To teach how to thoroughly brush your teeth, choose brushes designed for the age of 1-2 years.

The latter are similar to adult brushes, but differ from them:

Small head (about 1-1.5 cm).
Soft artificial bristles.
Comfortable rubber grip.
Maximum rounded edges.

Toothbrushes for the little ones

From 2-2.5 years old, you can use toothpaste when brushing your teeth. But only a specialized one that does not contain abrasive substances (fluoride) that can damage tooth enamel and delicate mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It is also preferable to have a tasteless paste, or one with a weak milky taste. Then the baby will not perceive it as a delicacy, but unpleasant sensations she will not call.

Starting to use toothpaste, you need to get accustomed to the baby. If he becomes lethargic, spots appear on the mucous membrane of his mouth, and a rash on the skin - the paste contains a component to which the child is allergic. In this case, the paste should be urgently abandoned.

However, in order to teach a kid how to brush his teeth correctly, you need to be able to do it yourself.

How to brush your teeth properly

To answer this question, you need to know what, how, how long and how many times a day to clean them. Let's take a closer look at this.

How can you brush your teeth

To properly brush your teeth, you first need a toothbrush and toothpaste. When choosing a brush, the decisive criterion is the quality of the bristles. She may be:

Soft. This brush does not injure the gums, therefore it is perfect for children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, as well as people suffering from gum problems or diabetes mellitus... However, it is not able to clean off old plaque.
Rigid. Suitable for people with a tendency to build up plaque. The problem is that heavy use of it can damage the enamel or the surrounding tissue.
Medium hardness. Good for cleaning healthy teeth. They use brushes with it most often.

When choosing a bristle, it is recommended to consult a dentist. He will recommend the best option based on dental health. In addition, the doctor may recommend very soft bristles - for periodontal disease, or very hard - if there is a risk of calculus formation.

There are five degrees of bristle hardness: very soft, soft, medium, hard and very hard

They also look at the condition of the tips of the bristles:

Rounded practically does not damage the gums;
Pointed teeth are most effective for cleaning the teeth and the distance between them;
Dull gums are perfectly massaged.

An important criterion for choosing a brush is the head. For children, a head 1.5-2 cm in size is enough, for adults - 2.5-3 cm. It is advisable to choose a movable head: this helps to clean the most distant teeth. And it is better that the upper part is equipped with a pad for cleaning the tongue.

In addition, the brush should be long enough to regulate the pressure and have rubber inserts to make it easier to hold.

In modern stores, along with ordinary ones, you can see electric toothbrushes. The sellers assure that with them the teeth are cleaned from plaque as easily and effectively as possible. This is true if you use these brushes only twice a week, but if you do it regularly, you can remove the enamel. Ultrasonic brushes are a good alternative. Such models are very expensive, so they are not in demand.

When choosing a paste, the condition of the teeth and gums is taken into account. For complex care, they are looking for combined options, for odor from the mouth - menthol or fruity aroma, etc. According to the purpose of the paste there are:

Anti-carious, rich in calcium and fluoride. They perfectly strengthen the tooth enamel, thereby performing a preventive function. But when caries occurs, they will not help, but only intensify the destruction.
Anti-inflammatory - with extract medicinal herbs... They are especially useful if the gums are bleeding as they help small sores in the mouth heal. They also help restore microflora and get rid of bad breath.
Whitening - effective removal plaque and coloring pigments are achieved here due to abrasive particles. However, such pastes thin the enamel, which leads to damage. Therefore, the whitening effect must be combined with the healing one. These pastes are more gentle, although they are much more expensive.
Salt, stimulating metabolic processes in the tissues of the gums and favorably affecting the microflora due to mineral salts... These pastes help prevent and treat gum disease.
Pastes for sensitive teeth... They have a protective effect, forming a thin film on the teeth, which reduces sensitivity and reduces the perception to aggressive environments.

The main purpose of toothpaste is to remove plaque and neutralize acids that corrode enamel.

Dental floss or floss is a good addition to the brush for cleaning areas that a toothbrush most often cannot reach.

But with alternative toothpaste products, everything is not so simple. Their supporters most often recommend replacing the paste:

Tooth powder. It contains 98-99% of precipitated chalk and 1-2% of fragrances and active additives. The first consists of calcium carbonate interspersed with silicon dioxide, aluminum and iron oxides and magnesium carbonate and is important for strengthening the enamel and gums. The latter endow the powder with medicinal and prophylactic properties. Here we can talk about sea salt, essential oils, dry clay, crushed dry medicinal herbs etc. However, the precipitated chalk still remains chalk. And because of its high abrasiveness, it can damage the thin tooth enamel. Therefore, tooth powder is contraindicated for those whose teeth are highly sensitive. There are not enough useful additives in it to solve specific dental problems. Tooth powder perfectly loosens dense plaque deposits and tartar, restores the acid-base balance, but it is very inconvenient to use it.
Laundry soap. When it gets on the mucous membranes, it creates gammaglobulin, a substance necessary to eliminate bacteria. However, such soap is rich in alkalis and acids, so it should not enter the stomach, while it may be accidentally swallowed during cleaning.
Soda. Soda is wonderful antiseptic, because it creates an alkaline environment unfavorable for bacteria in the oral cavity. However, the product is abrasive and can also damage tooth enamel. In addition, baking soda causes bleeding of the gums and allergic reactions- rashes around the mouth.
Activated carbon. It perfectly cleans off dental plaque, but due to its abrasive properties it is also capable of destroying enamel. In addition, the cleaning process in this case is quite long: the final rinse of the mouth is usually not enough, Activated carbon will have to be cleaned additionally.

Activated carbon does an excellent job of removing plaque on the teeth, but it is not recommended to use it for cleaning more than twice a week.

How long does it take to clean

The optimal period for brushing your teeth is 3-4 minutes with regular toothpaste and no more than 3 minutes with fluoride-containing toothpaste. It is exactly 3 minutes after contact with the teeth that the fluorides contained in the paste begin to act.

At the same time, there is no need to make 150-200 movements with a toothbrush, as has been recommended since the 50s. 10 movements on each side are enough. However, these movements must be correct, otherwise the procedure will not make sense.

Cleaning instructions

The teeth cleaning procedure includes the following steps:

Toothpaste is squeezed onto a clean brush. It needs a little: only a pea. Otherwise, when cleaning, too much foam will appear, the excess of which can be accidentally swallowed, which will have a bad effect on the body.
The brush is taken so that its head is horizontal and at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the gum. And then gently drive her head up and down. Cleaning starts with upper jaw, from the outside, from its left corner (for left-handers - from the right).
Then, with closed teeth, brush from left to right in a circular motion in order to more effectively clean the entire surface of the teeth, starting from the edge of the gums and ending with the edge of the teeth.
Next, turn the brush head vertically and begin to brush the teeth from the inside. Do this in the same way as when cleaning the outside side, but drive the brush rotational movements from the edge of the gums to the edge of the teeth.
Similarly, the entire inner side incisor teeth.
The final step is brushing the chewing surface of the teeth with forward and backward movements, as well as brushing the tongue.
At the end, all that remains is to rinse the toothbrush and rinse your mouth thoroughly, which can be done either with a specialized rinse aid or with tap water. To improve cleaning efficiency, toothbrushes are changed every 3-4 months.

Correct brushing movements

If dental floss is used in addition to the toothbrush, proceed as follows:

Take the thread cassette. Pull out about 40 cm of thread, if necessary, measure the length with a ruler.
Wrap the thread on medium or index fingers: one end on right hand, the other - to the left. One finger is needed to fix the thread, the other serves as the basis for winding its main part.
A piece of thread approximately 5 cm is left between the fingers, securely fixing it between thumb hands with the right and forefinger of the left.
They proceed directly to cleaning, opening their mouths wide and skipping a segment between the teeth, but in such a way as to avoid injury to the gums.
Then they press it to the side of the tooth and move it from top to bottom, trying to slightly lead it over the edge of the gum. Enough 6-8 of these movements. The move should not be sharp, but light and smooth. First, the thread goes back and forth, and then up and down.

It is recommended to consult a dentist for correct use of dental floss.

This is how all teeth are cleaned, and so that bacteria do not pass from one of them to another, starting to brush each new tooth use a new thread fragment.

How many times a day and when needed

Brushing your teeth should be done regularly twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, but no more. Otherwise, it can lead to irritation or drying of the mucous tissues. The exception is when a person has eaten a very sour or very sweet dish. In all other cases, simply rinsing your mouth out is sufficient.

Evening teeth brushing time - before going to bed. But there is no definite answer to the question about the time of the morning cleaning. It would seem that brushing your teeth after breakfast is more logical:

This will remove any food pieces that are stuck in your teeth.
Prevent due to the antimicrobial components contained in the paste inflammatory process if the gums or mucous membranes of the mouth were accidentally injured during the meal.
Do not let the enamel stain after drinking tea or coffee.
Freshen your breath before going on business.

The trouble is that immediately after eating, tooth enamel softens under the influence of acids contained in foods and drinks, and it can be easily damaged with a toothbrush. That is why dentists recommend brushing your teeth either before breakfast or 30-60 minutes after it, and rinsing before breakfast.

However, the question arises: why bother brushing your teeth in the morning if it was done at night? After all, a person does not eat at night. But the fact is that at night the bacteria in the oral cavity continue to multiply, and the salivation that flushes them decreases. One of the consequences of this is bad breath. Another is the ingress of bacteria along with food into the esophagus, if the teeth are not first brushed or at least rinsed.

There are times when the regular cleaning algorithm has to be changed. The reason, in particular, can be the extraction of a tooth.

Is it possible to clean after removal

At the site of the torn tooth, an open wound remains - a hole, which is tightened by a blood clot. She should not be injured, since the recovery process will be disrupted. Therefore, on the first day, cleaning is not needed at all. On the second day, it is permissible to use a brush with soft fibers, trying to bypass the hole. On the third or fourth day, you can use ordinary brush... But you should act carefully and according to the following algorithm:

First, the gums and tongue are cleaned using reverse side brushes or a special spatula.
The brush is moved in the direction from the healthy side of the jaw to the damaged one. At the same time, they slightly tilt their head to the healthy side and forward, preventing the paste from falling into the hole. The lips are parted, allowing the foam to flow freely. The movements of the brush during cleaning are circular.
The hole is reached last. At the same time, they try not to touch the hole itself. There is a brushing of the teeth next to her with the help of gentle circular movements.
After completing the procedure, they collect water in the mouth, keep it there for a short time, or carefully move it around the mouth, and then carefully spit it out. A clean brush is carried over the rows of teeth to remove the paste. The rinse is repeated.

On the eighth day after tooth extraction, you can go to the standard algorithm. If everything was done correctly before, the hole will heal quickly.

The situation is more complicated when a wisdom tooth is removed. The blood supply to the soft tissues holding it is abundant, so that the stop of bleeding will be longer.

If the wisdom tooth is removed, then on the first day no brushing and rinsing is allowed. On the second, light rinses or saline baths are acceptable. They are done as follows: dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water at room temperature. It remains to collect the resulting liquid in your mouth and alternately gently and slowly tilt your head. The procedure is repeated every time after meals.

And only from the third day you can use a toothbrush and paste. This must be done with the utmost care following the above algorithm. After the completion of the procedure, the paste is not spat out in order to avoid unnecessary movements. The foam should drain freely into the sink. After cleaning, the mucous membrane is rinsed with saline. If, after pulling out a wisdom tooth, you neglect oral hygiene, an inflammatory process can develop - alveolar osteomyelitis.

Having considered the main nuances associated with brushing your teeth, you can come to the conclusion: this procedure is very important for health and is extremely easy to carry out. Therefore, one should not neglect her.

Proper care oral cavity and the observance of basic rules of personal hygiene are the key to health and the prevention of dental diseases and dental problems. Their daily cleaning is part of the daily routine. However, having become a habitual action, brought to automatism, such manipulations have a number of nuances that you need to know in order for the benefits of them to be tangible.

Why brush your teeth?

The main task of cleaning teeth is the prevention of oral diseases by removing soft plaque. It forms as a sticky film on the tooth surface as a result of the accumulation of food debris. Uncleaned molars and tongue are a breeding ground for bacteria and pathogens. Their waste products lead to irritation of the mucous membrane and gums, corrode tooth enamel, provoking disease.

If you regularly and correctly brush your teeth, these are:

prevents many common dental diseases, such as caries, pulpitis or periodontitis;
will get rid of bad smell from mouth;
will give you healthy and strong teeth;
will provide a beautiful smile in the photo and in life.

Preparatory stage

This article tells about typical ways of solving your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

The regularity and correctness of the dental cleaning procedure plays a primary role in a positive result. However, the second most important question is how to brush your teeth. This applies to the choice of a toothbrush, toothpaste and complementary oral care products. They must be suitable for the person and satisfy his individual needs.

An incorrectly selected brush or paste can, instead of benefit, on the contrary, harm and cause a lot of unnecessary problems.

Choosing a toothbrush

Modern manufacturers provide a huge selection of toothbrushes, which can be difficult for an ordinary person to understand. When buying a daily cleaning product, you should pay attention to the following points:

The degree of stiffness of the bristles. It is better to give preference to a brush with medium hardness, otherwise you can injure the gums. In cases of high sensitivity of enamel and bleeding gums, you should opt for soft bristles.
Brush head size and handle length. The best option- a small, medium brush with a tapered head. The handle should be comfortable and not cause discomfort during the procedure.
The presence of special tubercles on the back of the brush. They are intended for cleaning the tongue, where a lot of bacteria also collect.
Bristle material. Natural brushes are inferior to nylon brushes, as bacteria multiply faster in them.

How do I find the right paste?

Toothpastes can be divided into several groups according to their purpose and composition:

If you have certain problems, you should seek the advice of your dentist to recommend a suitable toothpaste... For daily care, it is important to monitor its composition, namely, the concentration of fluorides in it. It should be in the range of 1350 - 1500 ppm or 0.13 - 0.15%.

Dental floss and mouthwash as an alternative to daytime brushing

If you brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, when normal condition mouth, a care product such as a mouthwash is not necessary. However, in cases where teeth are prone to tooth decay, it can be an alternative to brushing your teeth frequently during the day or after meals.

As for the dental floss, it is required in cases where the brush fails. The formation of soft plaque occurs not only on the surface of the teeth, but also between them. Not every brush is capable of cleaning it in these gaps, especially in hard-to-reach places.

How to properly brush your teeth for adults and children?

After choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste, it is imperative to find out all the features of such a banal procedure as brushing your teeth. The following questions come to the fore:

what is the optimal frequency of brushing your teeth;
how many times a day this procedure should be carried out and at what time of the day;
how long one cleaning should take;
Which plaque removal technique is correct and of better quality?

How often should you do this?

To keep their teeth clean and healthy, children and adults need to brush them at least twice every day. It is advisable to do this in the evening and in the morning.

Many brush their teeth immediately after getting up before eating, although brushing after breakfast is a better option. Thus, food debris trapped in the interdental gaps is eliminated.

However, there are also some nuances here. If there were fruits or juice for breakfast, then cleaning should be postponed for 60 minutes, since the acid that the fruits release leads to softening of the enamel, as a result of which it is possible to remove the beneficial elements contained in it along with the plaque. In any case, after a meal, you should brush your teeth after 30 minutes. This time is enough to restore the acid-base balance.

Brushing your teeth more than three times a day is ineffective and even harmful. It negatively affects the condition of the tooth enamel.

How long should cleaning take?

In order for the procedure to produce the desired effect, and the components of the toothpastes have time to work, its duration must be a certain time interval. Three minutes is the optimal period of time during which all soft plaque is mechanically removed from the tooth surface, and the toothpaste is most effective.

These minimum indicators of how long cleaning should last are relevant for any age. Their increase depends on factors such as:

The correct technique for daily brushing

With proper oral care, it is important not only to brush your teeth correctly, but also to remove plaque from the tongue, massage the gums with a brush or finger, and rinse your mouth with water at the end of the procedure. The very technique of removing plaque from teeth is reduced to the sequence of the following steps:

Rinse your mouth with plain water.
Cleaning the outer (from the cheek side) and inner (from the palate) surface of the teeth. The movements are directed from the gums to the edges and resemble sweeping. The toothpaste brush should be moved from the rearmost molars to the central ones, grabbing 2-3 teeth each.
Chewing surface treatment. It is carried out in the same order with horizontal small strokes.
Cleaning the front teeth. Circular movements are carried out along the closed lower and upper rows with the application of slight pressure.

How to care for teeth in braces and other restorative structures?

Taking care of teeth with braces or other corrective constructions, for example, removable dentures... In such a situation, the plaque removal procedure should be carried out three times a day. The process itself takes about 10 minutes. Not only teeth are subject to cleaning, but also the system itself, intended for correction. In addition, for the convenience and correct cleaning, you will need:

special orthodontic brush;
dental brush;
dental floss;
irrigation system.

Baby teeth care

Children's teeth are more sensitive and susceptible to external stimuli. Caring for them requires special attention. Plus, kids love everything sweet and do not control themselves in eating sweets, lollipops and other goodies, which puts an additional burden on children's young teeth. Parents are obliged not only to teach their child to brush their teeth regularly, but also to do it correctly.

What age should you start with?

When deciding exactly what time to resort to such a procedure, it is worth focusing on the child. This event can be postponed until the moment when at least half of the teeth come out.

An adult should first brush a child's teeth. A baby should be taught to self-cleaning no earlier than two years of age.

Features of brushing teeth in children from birth to 3 years old

In fact, you can take care of your teeth from the very birth of a child. This process has its own nuances for each age:

From birth to one year. Until the baby's teeth erupt, oral hygiene is carried out after feeding using specially soaked napkins or gauze dipped in a decoction of chamomile or oak bark. After teething, you need to gradually move from wipes to baby brushes with soft bristles.
From one to three years. From the age of 2, the child wants to do everything himself and repeats a lot after the parents, while gnawing on a brush or leading her over the teeth. This is ineffective. It is important to interest the child, to motivate him to brush his teeth correctly. You can turn the procedure into a game, buy an hourglass, let him choose his own brush.

Greetings to all my readers! Everyone knows about oral care since childhood. But as a result of research by scientists, new rules of care appear. For example, there is no single answer to the question: how many times do you need to brush your teeth a day. Find out why?

Is brushing your teeth a simple procedure?

It seems to many that everything is simple here: I walked over my teeth with a brush, and the job is done. It's not that simple. Do you know whether to clean before breakfast or after?

The opinions of experts do not agree here. One thing is clear - you need to clean it in the morning and evening. In the evening it is clear, you need to do so that the food particles do not remain there to rot.

And what about the morning manipulation?

The first version is after the meal. We were told about this from early childhood. But an American dentist conducted interesting research, during which it turned out that this statement is falling to pieces. It turns out that this beneficial post-meal procedure hurts ours. Blimey!

The doctor explains this by the fact that after a meal, the tooth enamel is slightly softened, which is easy to clean off. He recommends that the morning manipulation be carried out 30 or more minutes after breakfast.

Scientists in Germany conducted their own research, which confirmed the conclusions of the American. If you carry out the procedure right after breakfast, then the protective layer is peeled off. Can you imagine what the surface experiences during the daily procedure after eating? It just gets thinner. A thin protective layer leads to increased sensitivity of the teeth.

During meals, the acid found in food acts on the enamel, which slightly softens the enamel, and the brush erases it. That is, scientists recommend carrying out such a manipulation before meals.

Confirming version of scientists

There are several reasons why you should brush your teeth before eating.

During sleep, the body does not produce as much saliva as it does during the day. Therefore, bacteria in the mouth at night multiply with great activity, increasing the acidity.
If the enamel is not put in order before meals, then microbes enter the esophagus along with food. And this is not very useful for the digestive tract.
Almost all people in the morning feel a nasty taste, bitterness, feel their stale breath. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, the first desire arises - brush your teeth!
Almost all pastes contain fluoride, which strengthens the enamel, providing the top layer with the necessary substances. Minerals, in turn, protect her during breakfast. All this - for cleaning before the morning meal.

Opposite version

Another part of scientists believe that it is better to cleanse in the morning after breakfast.

During a meal, food particles remain between the teeth, which become an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms.
Rotting food particles can lead to bad breath and, as a result, to gum disease.
Eating solid foods can injure the delicate gum tissue where bacteria can enter. And the disinfecting components in the paste will prevent inflammation from developing.

Having learned all this, the question arises again: when is it more important to carry out hygienic manipulation?

If you eat breakfast after cleaning, the taste of the food will change, which is also not to everyone's liking.
On the other hand, during sleep, nothing gets into the mouth in the form of food, so all bacteria become "native", which means absolutely safe. From this we can conclude: there is no difference between day and night "inhabitants" of the mouth, that is, you can clean it after eating.
Another argument for post-meal manipulation. After drinking a cup of coffee or, a small amount remains on the enamel, and a toothbrush with paste will remove it.

How to find a middle ground

But you can find a middle ground! Before breakfast, rinse your mouth to help remove accumulated detritus and dead tissue cells, and already 30-60 minutes after eating, engage in hygiene.

Only unemployed people can afford this luxury. But what about those who are in a hurry to work?

From all of the above, the conclusion follows: there is no exact answer, so find the most convenient method for yourself. The main thing is that the teeth for a long time remained snow-white and strong.

Dentist tips:

brush your teeth before:
rinse your mouth with water after eating:
use sugar-free gum, which should not be chewed for more than 10 minutes.

How to prevent tooth decay

Experts tirelessly insist that more attention should be paid to brushing your teeth. How to properly carry out such a manipulation?

Carry out the procedure for brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes.
In the morning, you should also clean the surface of the tongue.
In the morning, use a paste with fluoride, and in the evening - with.
Use dental floss in the evening.

How many times a day should I brush my teeth? Many tend to carry out this manipulation after each meal. It is not right! Enough 2 times, and large quantity will lead to thinning of the enamel, drying of the mucous membrane.

If you have eaten something sweet or sour during the day, you can peel it again or chew gum. The rest of the time, use mouthwash, dental floss, or brush lightly, but without the paste. You can chew gum after eating.

Which paste to choose? It all depends on the condition of the mouth and teeth. It is desirable to have two types of paste - abrasive, with herbs, fluoride, as well as a paste without additives or gel.

Which brush to give preference

Teeth require daily attention and care. Since childhood, parents have taught us to brush our teeth twice a day. Once you start living on your own, brushing your teeth daily can be tiresome or annoying. If you are not used to brushing your teeth every day, then our tips will help you develop this good habit... Your smile and breathing will noticeably improve, making it easier for you to take care of yourself.

Steps

Part 1

Develop a habit

Determine how many times a day you will brush your teeth. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, sometimes more often. But if you forget to clean them even once a day, start small. Over time, dental care will become a habit with its benefits, so you stop forgetting to brush your teeth regularly.

Choose a daily action. You probably wash your face, comb your hair, or take a shower every day. Decide to brush your teeth every time you do this.

Be under no illusion. If you are able to oversleep and be late for work, then another mandatory morning lesson will only bother you.
If you come home squeezed like a lemon in the evening, then this is also not the best time to add extra action. Laziness or fatigue can disrupt all of your plans.

Place your toothpaste and toothbrush where you can see it. If you plan on brushing your teeth every time you shower, place the brush and toothpaste next to the shampoo. If you want to brush your teeth after washing, then put them next to your face care product!

Set your alarm. Set an alarm to remind you to brush your teeth every day. Choose a time when you’re probably already at home so that you don’t have any excuses.
- An alarm clock can be a backup plan. For example, if today you decide not to shower, the alarm will still remind you to brush your teeth.
Make your habit fun. Boring habits are hard to follow. If the activity is fun, it will be easier for you not to forget about it.
- You can listen to your favorite song every time you brush your teeth. This way you can even find out how long it takes you to care for your teeth!
- You don't need much concentration to brush your teeth, so you can watch TV or listen to the radio at the same time.
- Take some funny photos of the process and send them to your friends. You can also add words like “I have a daily routine!” To let them know about your efforts.
Brush your teeth every day for a month. Thirty days is an attainable and worthy goal. So you can turn your activity into a habit. Track your progress in your calendar or notebook. Celebrate every successful day.
- Put a calendar in the bathroom so you can see it and not miss a single day.
- Don't worry if you missed a day. Just go back to your plan the next day.
Pay attention to how you feel. After a while, you may feel more confident brushing your teeth every day. Your smile and breath will be clean and fresh. Enjoy your newfound confidence; this is what will help you keep the habit.

Part 3
Understand the need for regular grooming
1. Learn how brushing affects your teeth. The more you know, the stronger your motivation. There are many websites that provide information on the importance of oral hygiene. Choose the reasons that are most important to you. Here are some examples: