An important part of your dental health is to brush and floss your teeth or dental implants. Though you may do so, you may be surprised to find that you’re not doing it properly. For instance, did you know you should brush at least twice in a day and floss at least once a day, even if you have dental implants or dentures?
Read on for tips to get the best out of these important daily practices.
Brushing
Eating acidic foods can break down your tooth enamel. Brushing immediately after eating can further harm the enamel by eroding or even removing it. Instead, we recommend that you wash and rinse with water immediately after eating or drinking to loosen any food particles and to neutralize the acids on your teeth, dentures or dental implants. It’s best to wait at least 30 minutes after a meal before brushing your teeth or dental implants.
Proper Technique
We recommend that you brush for a minimum of two minutes. Use these methods for your daily brushing routine to ensure it’s done correctly every time.
- Choose a soft toothbrush with rounded bristles to avoid scraping or tearing your gums or damaging your dental implants or All-on-4 implants. Receding gums can be caused by years of brushing too hard.
- Brush along the gumline at a 45° angle. Use a gentle, back and forth motion or a circular scrubbing motion. The goal is to get to every tooth.
- Next, brush the back of your teeth or dental implants. Use the tip of the toothbrush with up and down strokes. Again, it’s important to brush, not scrub, to avoid damaging the gums.
- Make sure you brush the top and sides of your tongue to remove bacteria and foul odor.
Remember to change your brushing patterns frequently to avoid missing the same spots over and over. Also, it’s best to replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
Flossing
Flossing daily ensures you’ll clean the out-of-the-way areas that your toothbrush can’t reach. Plaque can grow between your teeth in a day. It actually begins to harden into tartar within 24 to 36 hours, so we strongly recommend you floss at least once a day and especially before going to bed, even if you have dentures, dental implants, or All-on-4 implants.
Proper Technique
You can make remembering to floss easier if you do it while doing something fun like watching your favorite TV show or listening to your favorite podcast.
- Pull 18 to 36 inches of floss from the dispenser.
- Gently wrap the ends around your index and middle fingers, but leave about 2 inches in between your hands.
- Insert the floss between your teeth or dental implants. Wrap it in a C-shape and gently pull the floss around the tooth or implant while moving it in an up and down motion. Make sure to floss the front and back of each tooth.
- As the floss wears, unwrap it from your fingers and switch to a fresh section.
As with brushing, make sure you don’t damage your gums. You want to get the base of each tooth, just at the gumline, but you don’t want to cause your gums to bleed. Your gums may be sore if you haven’t flossed recently, but after the first few days you’ll remove the bacteria and they will feel better.
You can ensure the best long-term care for your teeth, dental implants, All-on-4 implants, or dentures by using proper flossing techniques in conjunction with proper cleaning and regular dental checkups. Contact us today to set a date for your next visit and to find out more about our teeth in a day procedure.
