Oral hygiene: 7 tips for proper dental care

1. The correct cleaning technique

With a manual toothbrush, the correct cleaning technique is crucial: many people clean their teeth using circular movements. However, this can push gums back. Small, juddering movements directed from the gums towards the teeth are better. This loosens the plaque under the gum line and on the tooth itself and then removes it using a wiping motion towards the chewing surface. The chewing surfaces should be cleaned using back and forth movements. In total, brushing your teeth twice a day for three minutes is sufficient. Regular, much longer cleaning can remove too much tooth enamel.

2. Consider the spaces between your teeth

Even with good dental care, the toothbrush only reaches around 70 percent of the tooth surfaces. It can only reach the interdental spaces inadequately or not at all. That is where plaque, the bacterial biofilm as well as the smallest food residues collect – a breeding ground for caries and periodontitis. Very narrow spaces between the teeth should therefore be cleaned with dental floss once a day; interdental brushes are suitable for all remaining spaces. You will be taught how to use them both without injuring your gums when you visit your dentist or have your teeth professionally cleaned.

3. Get the results checked

A thorough and effective oral hygiene includes an annual checkup at the dentist. Only an expert can, for example, diagnose defects such as damage to the enamel, tooth decay or receding gums. These are often not visible or noticeable for the layperson. The visit is doubly worthwhile: anyone who has a complete bonus booklet in Germany will later receive higher subsidies for prostheses, crowns and bridges from their health insurance company. A professional tooth cleaning (abbreviated: PTC) should be carried out once or twice a year, during which the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and polished, so that plaque does not stick so easily. A final seal strengthens the enamel.

4. Apply only a little pressure

Too much pressure is counterproductive when brushing your teeth – instead of plaque, the enamel is removed. If the gums bleed during cleaning, this is a clear warning signal. For protection, electric toothbrushes often have an integrated warning light. When using a manual toothbrush, a test with a set of kitchen scales can be helpful to develop a feeling for the right amount of pressure. To do this, press the toothbrush head lightly onto the scales, if a weight of more than 150 g is displayed this is too much. Anyone who already has defects on their teeth caused by cleaning, such as grooves or indentations or regularly suffers from gum injuries, should not only pay attention to the right pressure but also use a soft toothbrush. However, the latter’s cleaning power is somewhat reduced – which is why it is advisable to clean even more thoroughly.

5. Do not forget the tongue

What many people don’t know: the bacteria that can cause bad breath, tooth decay or inflammation also accumulate on the tongue. Consequently, the tongue should also be cleaned during your daily oral hygiene. A special scraper (available in chemists or pharmacies) or a toothbrush are suitable for this purpose. This reduces the number of bacteria throughout the entire oral cavity.

6. Apply an extra dose of protection

The trace element fluoride is a natural tooth component. Applied externally, it strengthens the teeth and reduces the risk of tooth decay. Clinicians, therefore, often recommend it from the moment the first milk teeth erupt in children. A good fluoride supply can be achieved with lozenges or special children's toothpastes. The German Dental Association recommends toothpastes containing fluoride from the age of six. Children can then, for example, use their parents' toothpaste, for example Lacalut® active toothpaste). Anyone who, after brushing their teeth, pulls the foam through their teeth once more and then spits it out but does not rinse their mouth out with water, offers their teeth a particularly thorough supply of fluoride. The trace element can then continue to work on the tooth surface.

7. Dentures also need optimal dental care

The following applies to artificial dentures: like your own teeth, they should be cleaned twice a day after eating because food residues, bacteria and dead mucous membrane cells also adhere to removable dentures, i.e. third teeth. The result is prosthesis plaque. Just like plaque on real teeth, this can also cause tooth decay and other diseases, if it is not removed regularly. In the morning, after eating, dentures should therefore be cleaned  outside the mouth using a toothbrush or special denture brush.