Oral hygiene
Taking care of proper oral hygiene is the first step in dental prevention.
Daily oral hygiene: regular brushing with the appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush, cleaning the interdental spaces and tongue with the appropriate tools, and rinsing the mouth with appropriate preparations allows you to maintain good health and overall well-being.
After an initial examination, and if necessary, a plaque staining test, the staff at the ARTIMEDICA Clinic will select the appropriate individual toothbrushing technique, toothbrush and toothpaste, and other necessary accessories for you.
The following factors play an important role in selecting the right oral hygiene products:
- the condition of the gums and interdental papillae,
- the patient’s age,
- the condition of the tooth necks,
- the presence of orthodontic appliances,
- the presence of prosthetic restorations,
Contrary to appearances, choosing the right brushing technique and appropriate hygiene products and materials is not an easy task and requires professional knowledge and a good understanding of the products available on the market. Due to the individual physiology and condition of our teeth and periodontium, as well as our varying manual dexterity, we recommend consulting the staff at the ARTIMEDICA Clinic on this matter.
Choosing a toothbrush – manual or electric?
There is a whole range of toothbrushes available on the market.
Toothbrushes with soft, tightly concentrated bristles of equal length are most effective at removing plaque and food debris from teeth!
They do not damage the enamel around the necks of the teeth and gently massage the gums.
It is recommended to use brushes with small heads, which make it easier to reach all areas of the mouth.
The type of handle and shape of the head are less important in terms of effectiveness. Simply choose the solution that is most comfortable for you.
Electric toothbrushes are a good solution for people who cannot master the correct technique of brushing their teeth with a manual toothbrush. They also have a built-in timer that signals the minimum brushing time. They are recommended for small children who have limited manual dexterity.
How often should you replace your toothbrush? You should replace your toothbrush when you see the first signs of wear or every 3 months.
Choosing toothpaste
When choosing a toothpaste, it is worth considering whether and what additional substances can contribute to improving the health of our oral cavity.
As with toothbrushes, there is a huge selection of toothpastes on the market. They often differ in smell, colour, taste or packaging, but the composition of most of them is often similar.
- Preventive toothpastes – the active ingredient is fluoride or hydroxyapatite; children under 5 years of age should use toothpastes containing 500 to 1000 ppm of fluoride, as they are unable to rinse and spit out thoroughly; the use of adult toothpaste containing significantly higher amounts of fluoride may result in the child swallowing too much fluoride; therefore, young children should be supervised by their parents when brushing their teeth, and the amount of toothpaste used at one time should not exceed the size of a pea.
- Herbal toothpastes – contain herbal extracts and have a soothing effect on the gums.
- Medicinal toothpastes – contain the active ingredient chlorhexidine in a concentration of 0.05-0.12%, which has bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties.
- Comprehensive action toothpastes – combine the above-mentioned properties.
- Whitening toothpastes – please note that we do not recommend the use of certain whitening toothpastes due to their strong abrasive properties.
Methods of brushing teeth
There are many different techniques for brushing your teeth. We recommend that you consult your dentist to choose the technique that best suits your individual needs.
We invite you to visit our ARTIMEDICA Centre for a consultation and oral hygiene instruction.
After conducting an initial examination, including a plaque staining test if necessary, the dentist will select the appropriate individual toothbrushing technique for you, depending on the condition of your teeth and periodontium, age, the presence of prosthetic restorations and orthodontic appliances, as well as your manual dexterity.
Proper tooth brushing should take about 3 minutes. This should be repeated at least twice a day – preferably in the morning, in the evening and, if possible, after every meal, especially those rich in carbohydrates.
Cleaning interdental spaces and hard-to-reach areas
Failure to clean the spaces between teeth is often the cause of inflammation, tooth decay, periodontal disease and unpleasant mouth odour.
For proper cleaning of interdental spaces and hard-to-reach areas, in addition to a toothbrush, you should use: dental floss, three-piece floss, interdental brushes, single-tufted brushes, and irrigators.
Dental floss
Dental floss allows you to remove plaque and food debris from the sides of your teeth, places that a toothbrush cannot reach.
Using dental floss is very important because it helps prevent oral diseases such as periodontitis and the commonly known tooth decay.
Three-part floss
Three-part floss consists of three elements: a stiffened insertion tip, a soft cleaning sponge and traditional floss.
- The stiffened tip allows you to reach under bridges and orthodontic appliances.
- The soft sponge cleans around bridges and braces and large interdental spaces.
- Standard floss helps remove plaque below the gum line.
Interdental brushes
The spaces between teeth and between teeth and orthodontic appliances can be cleaned with special interdental brushes. Depending on the width of the space, we use brushes of different sizes (diameters).
Single-tufted brushes – particularly suitable for cleaning:
- implants,
- the space behind the last molars,
- the cervical areas,
- isolated teeth,
- fixed orthodontic appliances.
Irrigators
Hard-to-reach areas can also be cleaned using irrigators, which use water or an anti-inflammatory agent administered under pressure to flush food debris from inaccessible areas and deep gum pockets.
Daily use of irrigation in combination with brushing significantly reduces gum inflammation.
The use of irrigators is particularly recommended for people:
- who wear orthodontic appliances,
- with permanent prosthetic restorations (bridges, implants),
- with advanced periodontal disease,
- who have difficulty using dental floss.
Please note that incorrect use of certain interdental cleaning tools may damage your gums. To avoid this, we recommend consulting the staff at the ARTIMEDICA clinic.
Cleansing the tongue
Poor tongue hygiene promotes the growth of bacteria and is one of the causes of bad breath.
The tongue is covered with papillae, on which numerous bacteria accumulate. These bacteria, together with food debris, form a deposit and are often the cause of bad breath. That is why it is so important to clean your tongue every day. This can be done with a tongue scraper.
Mouth rinsing
The purpose of mouthwashes is to remove food debris, fight bacteria, restore the proper pH balance in the mouth and ensure fresh breath.
There are many mouthwashes available on the market, differing in chemical composition and properties. They have various effects, including:
- soothing gum inflammation,
- reducing tooth sensitivity,
- removing unpleasant odours from the mouth,
- supporting teeth whitening,
- reducing plaque build-up.
The use of chlorhexidine-containing mouthwashes has a beneficial effect on reducing the bacterial flora in the oral cavity, as it acts on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Long-term use of this type of mouthwash may cause discolouration on the surface of the teeth.
Mouthwashes are not recommended for young children, especially those under 6 years of age, due to the possibility of swallowing.
Diet
Eating habits have a significant impact on the health of our teeth and periodontium.
Carbohydrates are considered to be the most significant factor contributing to the development of dental caries. They are the basis of bacterial metabolism. When broken down, they produce acids, which in turn cause demineralisation, i.e. decalcification of the enamel.
A proper diet, rich in minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, as well as vitamins (including A, E, C, B and D), is an important determinant of the proper development of strong teeth and periodontal tissues and significantly reduces the risk of caries.