Say Cheese! Maintain Your Smile with Tooth Care

Keeping your teeth clean is about more than having a pretty smile. Tooth and gum care also affects your whole-body health, and your mouth can be a window into your overall health, showing signs you may not see otherwise. In fact, did you know that inflamed gums can even increase your risk for heart disease? 

That’s why it’s not only important to take great care of your teeth, but also to be sure you’re seeing a dentist regularly.

How to brush

Dentists say you should brush at least twice a day — once after you eat breakfast, to get rid of the bacteria that developed in your mouth while you slept, and again before you go to sleep. Regular brushing ensures you keep your teeth healthy, so you don’t get painful cavities or even lose teeth, but it also keeps you from having bad breath. 

While you’ve certainly been brushing your teeth since before you can remember, many people don’t use the proper technique. Brushing your teeth the wrong way is a bit like just rinsing your hands instead of using soap — it leaves a lot of germs behind, and those germs can turn into cavities if you’re not careful. 

Here’s the way you SHOULD be doing it:

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

It’s uncommon to see hard bristles on toothbrushes at the store, but some people believe that a vigorous scrub with a hard- or even medium-bristled brush is somehow better for their teeth. This is not true! In fact, they can damage the enamel. Dentists recommend that you use soft bristles and save the more abrasive cleaning for a dental hygienist, who knows how to do this safely.

Use toothpaste that contains fluoride

Doctors say that most toothpastes contain the same ingredients, so whether you choose whitening, breath freshening, gum health, or other specially formulated toothpaste, it will all work, as long as it contains fluoride. Many natural toothpastes don’t, so be sure to find one that does, to effectively remove plaque, which is the sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth throughout the day. 

Get the movement right

Here’s the technique the Cleveland Clinic suggests you use: tilt your toothbrush at about a 45-degree angle, angling the brush part downward and making short strokes that overlap, sort of in circles. Make sure you’re getting the brush all the way to the gums, using gentle pressure. Then just make sure you’re hitting every part of the tooth, as well as the rest of your mouth — the tongue, gums, even the roof of your mouth! Be sure to brush for at least two minutes; it’s a good idea to set a timer. It may feel like a long time, but it’s the best way to be sure you’ve covered everything.

Then spit and swish with water to remove the toothpaste.

A rinse might help

If you’re having trouble using a toothbrush to get your teeth fully clean, it might be good to use a mouthwash with fluoride. Just follow the instructions: Take a mouthful, swish it around in your mouth for a full minute (don’t swallow it!), then spit it out.

Don’t forget to floss

Floss every day. It removes bacteria from between teeth that your brush can’t reach. Even if you brush multiple times a day, you can still get cavities if you don’t clean between your teeth, and your gums can get infected — remember that connection to heart disease? Protect your gums to stay as healthy as you can.

Visit your dentist regularly

Be sure to visit the dentist at least once a year to get a professional cleaning and to be sure that all your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible. Dentists can spot things with their equipment that you can’t with just your eyes.