What’s your daily dental health routine? Perhaps you brush twice a day, or maybe you floss routinely. Perhaps you chew gum or breath mints mid-day because you want to have fresh breath. The question is, do you know if it’s working?
Amita Sharma, hygienist for the FLOSS Uptown Dallas location, who gave her best advice for good daily dental hygiene habits.
“It’s simple, but important. You should brush, floss and rinse,” said Amita. “Doing all three provide you with a great daily dental routine.”
BRUSH
We have all heard you should brush at least twice a day. It’s something that our parents ensured we started as children, so now it seems normal. But why do we need to brush at least twice a day?
“Think about your home. You could have a great home with a solid foundation, but if you throw termites into it, they will eat away and erode your home. Bacteria and plaque work in a similar fashion,” said Amita. “Brushing helps to maintain and clean up your mouth. It removes plaque and bacteria that could turn into infections or cavities.“
According to Amita, ideally you want to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. Additionally, she stresses the use of electronic devices to help.
“Electric toothbrushes are amazing products that can be easily implemented,” said Amita. “By using an electric toothbrush once a day for two minutes, you have already surpassed the number of brushstrokes you can accomplish with a manual toothbrush in one week.”
There are a number of options on the market, including Sonicare that has various types to fit your needs. For example, the Sonicare DiamondClean has various modes including gum care, polish, whiten and even a mode for sensitive mouths.
“It’s easy to find an electric toothbrush to fit your needs and budget, and the benefits are definitely worth the price. Bacteria and plaque can cause significant issues, including bone loss,” said Amita. “Once your bone is gone, it does not grow back. Choosing to brush twice daily is an easy way to take preventative action.”
FLOSS
“When you take your car into the car wash, you have a trio of devices that get it clean which include water, brushes and the final rinse. Alone they are not effective, but together they clean your car,” said Amita. “It’s similar with dental care. Brushing alone will not reach the bacteria in between teeth, particularly in those tight contact areas.”
There are many good reasons to floss, but what if it’s uncomfortable for you?
“Many patients complain that their gums bleed when they floss. The process is the same as if you get a cut. If you don’t clean it, infection can set in,” said Amita. “Flossing daily helps you clean out bacteria while getting rid of inflammation, which results in your gums no longer bleeding when you floss.”
Of course, there are those of us who just simply choose not to floss, regardless of the benefits. Are there other options?
“Some of our patients really don’t like to floss, so we work with them on creating a routine that provides similar benefits while keeping their mouths healthy,” said Amita. “There are alternatives to the string floss, such as air flossing.”
Air floss devices, such as Sonicare’s AirFloss Pro, blow air and a bit of liquid solution between your teeth to minimize bacteria and remove particles. Amita recommends using a mouth rinse instead of water to get an active ingredient in the mix. Another option is a WaterPik, which has a continuous jet stream to flush out bacteria and particles. The devices are good for those hard to reach areas or if you have a bridge you cannot floss under so the tissue stays healthy. However, anyone with tight contact areas may not benefit as much from these types of devices because the water and/or air cannot get between the teeth.
Amita says that good, old-fashioned string floss is the best way to remove bacteria from contact areas while also keeping the bacteria levels down.
There are multiple types of floss, so choose one that is good for your particular mouth. Keep trying until you find what works. Amita offered these tips:
“For smooth contact areas you want a smoother floss to glide along the teeth. Tighter areas need a glide or satin style. Using a seesaw motion will prevent you from popping the floss into your gum, which can be a little painful. We also recommend checking out flossing videos on YouTube. There are several that provide good techniques based on specific teeth and mouth situations.”
RINSE
“The average working American has a whole span from around 8 AM to 7 PM where there is little to no opportunity to brush. We often just don’t think about it,” said Amita. “That is a long time where we regularly eat and drink without doing much to remove plaque and bacteria from our mouths. Rinsing provides an easy-to use option to combat some of the bacteria.”
Rinsing provides an additive irrigation method that maximizes your daily routine and overall dental health. Remember the car wash analogy? You have to rinse to get the car clean. Adding a mouth rinse supports tissue healing while rounding out your routine.
“Listerine is one of the best rinses out there. They have a TSA approved size that has a tight lid so you can take it with you everywhere without worrying about spills,” said Amita. “I recommend to my patients they carry mouth rinse and try to rinse during the day. Adding some type of irrigation will help remove some of the plaque, plus you get fresh breath to be ready for that next meeting.”
The Big 3
“Often less is more. Make sure that the routine is effective, and add the electronic devices to maximize the outcome. Also, make sure you understand why you are using any of the devices. Finally, remember the basics of brush, floss and rinse. See your dentist routinely, work with your hygienist to develop a routine that works for you and you’ll minimize those emergency dental visits. Plus you can be confident you’ll have a solid daily dental hygiene routine.”
