Proper brushing starts with choosing the right toothbrush. Here’s what to consider:
Bristle hardness: Soft or at most medium bristles are recommended. Hard bristles can wear down tooth enamel and irritate your gums. Since toothbrush manufacturers don’t follow a universal standard, look for packaging labeled "soft" — this usually ensures it’s truly soft or at most medium.
Size: A toothbrush with a smaller head typically offers better access to all areas of the mouth, especially the back teeth.
Manual or electric: Electric toothbrushes can be more effective, especially for people with limited mobility. However, a manual brush can work just as well if used correctly.
When to replace your toothbrush: Replace your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months or sooner, if the bristles show signs of wear. Worn bristles don’t clean effectively and are harder to maintain clean.
Factors to take into account:
Fluoride: Always choose a toothpaste with fluoride — it’s the only ingredient proven to protect against cavities by strengthening tooth enamel.
Special needs: Depending on your needs, you might choose a toothpaste for sensitivity, whitening, etc. Always check with your dentist to get the right recommendation.
Ingredients: If you have a sensitive mouth, suffer from mouth ulcers or have a strong gag reflex, avoid toothpastes with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or baking soda — they can be too harsh or foamy.
Right amount: Adults should use a pea-sized amount (about 1 cm). For children under 3 years old use half that amount. Up to age 6 children should always brush under adult supervision.
A toothbrush alone isn’t enough to fully clean between teeth. So it’s advised to use some extra cleaning means daily:
Dental floss: Gently slide it between your teeth and curve it around each tooth in a C-shape to clean both sides.
Interdental brushes: Ideal for larger gaps or areas with crowns, bridges or implants. Choose the right size with your dentist’s help, dampen the brush, and gently insert it between teeth, moving it in and out.
Preparation
Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush.
Wet the brush slightly to soften bristles and help dissolve the paste.
The Bass technique – most recommended by dentists
Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly and store it upright in an open space to air dry.
At least twice a day – once in the morning and once before bedtime.
Ideally brush 30 minutes after meals, not immediately — especially after consuming acidic foods, as that can damage enamel.
Bedtime brushing is critical since saliva production drops while you sleep, leaving teeth more vulnerable to bacteria.
Technique errors
Horizontal brushing: Brushing side-to-side too hard can damage enamel and gums.
Too much pressure: Pressing too hard can wear enamel and push back gums.
Rushing: Quick brushing doesn’t clean effectively.
Inconsistency: Skipping areas or brushing without a system.
Ignoring inner surfaces: Many people focus only on the outer sides of teeth but the inner surfaces are just as important.
Equipment Mistakes
Worn toothbrush: Old bristles don’t clean properly.
Hard-bristle brushes: Can harm gums and enamel.
Poor storage: Closed containers trap moisture and grow bacteria
Habit Mistakes
Brushing right after acidic food: Wait about 30 minutes.
Skipping nighttime brushing: Nighttime is when your mouth is most vulnerable, so it more important to go to bed with clean teeth.
Not flossing: Brushing can’t fully clean between teeth, therefore flossing or using interdental brushes is essential.
At least twice a year for a routine check-up, even if you don’t have any symptoms or other evident problems. Many dental issues like cavities and gum disease progress silently at first. Regular check-ups allow early diagnosis, making treatment easier, faster and cheaper. Your dentist may recommend more frequent visits based on your needs. And of course, see your dentist promptly if you have discomfort or were advised to seek treatment.
The correct answer is whenever it’s needed. Statistically, however, most people will usually require professional cleaning of the teeth once or twice a year. This procedure removes plaque and tartar that brushing alone can’t. Sometimes even small amounts of build-up can irritate gums, so earlier cleanings can prevent more significant problems. Cleanings are often combined with your regular 6-month check-up.
Not if done properly and under professional guidance/ supervision. Your dentist will assess your oral health first and advise you accordingly. When used as instructed, whitening materials are safe. Some temporary teeth sensitivity may occur but it is temporary and manageable with proper treatment. Risks arise mostly from unsupervised use of over-the-counter products or online kits, especially without prior dental examination and assessment.
No, not in the way it might reject a transplanted organ. Implants and grafts are biocompatible and carefully processed to avoid immune rejection. Success rates are high: ~97% over 5 years and ~92–94% over 10 years. Failures are rare and often due to early infection or trauma. Even then, repeating the placement procedure after a few months is usually successful.
Not in modern dentistry, thanks to significant technological advancements. Especially digital X-rays require very low radiation levels and for every patient the lowest possible number of X-rays are taken, so exposure is kept to a minimum. Therefore, one can feel completely safe when getting a dental X-ray.
Sugary and starchy foods provide the best nutrition for the bacteria that reside in peoples’ mouths, thereby increasing the risk of developing caries. Also, acidic foods and carbonated drinks can erode tooth enamel, causing significant damage.
More harmful than the quality of the food can often be the number of meals and snacks. Eating too frequently means your teeth don’t have the time to replenish the lost surface minerals from the saliva. It’s recommended, therefore, to aim for three main meals and one or two snacks per day, so as – in combination with good oral hygiene – to keep your teeth healthy.
It depends on the type of mouthwash. Fluoride mouthwash (about 500 ppm F) is great for daily use as it helps prevent cavities. However, it cannot replace tooth brushing with a fluoride toothpaste under any circumstances.
Antiseptic mouthwashes, such as chlorhexidine ones, have different qualities and should only be used following a recommendation and instructions from the dentist and only for a limited amount of time. Even mild over-the-counter antiseptic mouthwashes may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is always better to ask your dentist before using them regularly.
Not always. Wisdom teeth aren’t "useless" and don’t need to be removed routinely as a precaution. In many cases, though, they don’t erupt properly in the mouth and can cause problems, such as pain, crowding, infections, gum issues and more. Then extraction is usually the best solution, either simple or surgical. Your dentist will assess the situation first and, in the vast majority of cases, the procedure is safe and painless.
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