Tips to maintain a healthy mouth

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Tips to maintain a healthy mouth

Many patients ask us which brush should be used at home to maintain a healthy mouth and thus avoid the appearance of cavities or gum inflammation (gingivitis or periodontitis). At Vilarrasa Clínica Dental we explain it to our patients when they ask us, but especially on dental hygiene day we emphasize it a lot. In this blog we explain it:
  1. Powered/manual brush
    If you have been brushing your teeth all your life with a manual brush and your hygiene is correct and the condition of your gums is adequate, you can continue brushing with the manual. If you have sensitive gums, you may need a manual brush with soft filaments. The brushing technique is very important – recommending the Bass technique, and also the frequency and duration (twice a day during two minutes).
    But, if you have difficulty brushing your teeth and your oral hygiene is not adequate, we definitely recommend the electric brush. Recent studies show that it is more effective when it comes to controlling the levels of bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation. The most important thing about an electric toothbrush is to display a pressure sensor to prevent gum recession and that the brush head adapts to your needs. The brushing technique also changes – you will have to brush tooth by tooth leaving the brush resting between the tooth and the gum and without forgetting the contact surfaces of the teeth.
  2. Dental floss or interdental brush
    Many patients brush their teeth correctly, but do not use dental floss and interdental brush regularly. Actually, dental floss or an interdental brush are essential to prevent tooth decay and gum inflammation. Dental floss is usually used when there are no open (or black) spaces between the teeth, while the interdental brush is recommended when there is a space between teeth caused by bone and gum loss. It is suggested to do it once a day.
  3. Mouthwash
    We always explain that rinsing daily with some disinfectant mouthwash can complement hygiene, but in no case is it a substitute for everything we have previously explained. Rinsing disinfectant products allows us to clean not only the surfaces of the teeth but also reduce the bacterial load of bacteria reservoirs such as the cheek, tonsils or tongue. Mouthwashes recommended for daily use do not usually present significant local adverse effects and can be used safely. They will also help keep your mouth much fresher.

We hope these lines are useful so you can keep your mouth healthy! Any doubt you may have, we will be happy to assist you in the clinic and resolve it. Finally, it should be noted that patients with orthodontics, dental implants or fixed prostheses need slightly different instructions that we will explain in another post as soon as we can.