What's your top tips for super dental hygenie?

[Sunshineandrainbow]

I really need to improve my dental care so please give me your top tips!
If you brush at night do you brush again in the morning before breakfast? Do you then brush again after breakfast?

Ah ok thanks. I only got my Waterpik the other day so I'm still getting to grips with it. I shall use it twice a day now instead of once.

Dentist here.
No one has mentioned the importance of using toothpaste with fluoride in. Twice daily and to spite out afterwards and not rinse away the lovely fluoride.
Yes to all the interdental aids- we all have our favourites but go steady using toothpaste on interdental brushes - I have seen this cause excessive wear/ rub away in-between the teeth.
Also minimise acidic/ carbonated drinks including orange juice. Generally low sugar diet and not too much snacking.
There - I can get off my soap box now!

@pc20 do you advise on mouthwash and when would I use it?
Should I aks for the higher fluoride Toothpaste?
Going back for a chekc after my extraction so can ask then

@Sunshineandrainbow Dentist will advise on best fluoride toothpaste strength. Depends on amount of recent decay/ fillings and also if saliva levels are low or what other medical issues there may be. Mouthwash with fluoride is an extra and again depends on the same things I have just specified.
Your own dentist will gave full details & best to advise.

Brush twice a day and I use Duraphat toothpaste and I interdental everytime I eat.

I only have one salivary gland, so food will not wash away on its own.

I use a water jet to floss my teeth. My gums are like an 18 year old , so says my dentist!

Brush twice a day for at least 2 minutes with high fluoride toothpaste (duraphat) concentrate on gum line, use interdental picks, don't rinse, just leave toothpaste residue in mouth.

I can't use floss (severely cackhanded) but the picks seem to work.

Floss the teeth you want to keep.

Brush twice a day , use interdental brushes , swill out with water after drinking coffee , red wine etc . See a dentist annually and a hygienist 2-3 x a year .

Bloody hell. Did it hurt?

Does this help with staining?

Hello @PC20 how bad is it for my kids to have been put on a 3 month cal back for cleaning? I am mortified

Dentist here too.

Agree with @PC20 comments.

Also, it doesn't really matter if you brush before or after breakfast, but if you brush after (or indeed after any meal), make sure you leave around 20-30 minutes between eating and brushing, especially if you've had things like fruit juice. If you brush afterwards you are essentially brushing acid into your teeth.

Sugar effect on teeth depends more on frequency than amount. So for example, if you eat a whole cake (!) in one sitting, it's not as bad for your teeth than if you were to have a slice every hour because that's only one sugar 'attack' as opposed to several.

Floss every day, I use the expanding kind and tongue scraping

My dentist says just using a water pik isn't good enough you also need to floss.

I agree it’s individual.
I used to have a very expensive Oral B electric toothbrush but through user error I was over-doing things and caused a bit of gum recession and enamel erosion according to my dentist.

So back on manual soft nylon bristle toothbrush as I have more control over pressure, rhythm, direction. Change it every two months.

Brush 2x day with flouride toothpaste that has no SLS in it (SLS gives me mouth sores and inflames my gums). I brush first thing when I get up and right before bed. Floss added to this every other day plus as needed(if feel food stuck). I like the dental tape as it seems to get all the plaque out.

Mid-morning/mid-afternoon I also rinse my mouth with a flouride mouthwash. Usually an hour after my morning post breakfast cup of coffee and an hour after lunch.

I have deep grooves in my molars and had them pro-actively sealed in my twenties because no amount brushing would prevent decay….very thankful to the dentist that recommended that to my younger self.

I go to hygenist and dentist religiously every sixth months for full clean and check up.

Still got all my natural teeth…

I’m in my early 40’s with no fillings. I have always brushed for at least 2 minutes twice a day (after breakfast and before bed). I don’t have a lot of fizzy drinks but when I do, I usually have these with a straw. A few years ago I got a water flosser which has been brilliant. Also, no idea if this is true but I drank a lot of milk as a child and dentist at the time told my mum my teeth and bones would be amazing as an adult.

@PC20 Can tell you're a dentist by your use of 'lovely flouride.' 😁

Yes, OP. Floss and interdental brushes. I almost lost a tooth due to bone loss because of anorexia. It's taken 9 months but my loose tooth has firmed up after spending more time cleaning. My gums are still receeded but everything's looking much better now.

Can I ask why?

I spent a lot of time being told off by our old dentist for the poor state of mine and dc2’s teeth, despite good dental routines and watching our diet. In comparison dc1 has fabulous string and healthy teeth but eats lots of sugar with a relatively poor dental routine.
Our dentist retired last year and I talked to the new one about where we were going wrong. He said we weren’t, and in our case it was very much down to genetics :(

1. After eating swoosh your mouth with water and swallow or spit (good way to hydrate!) until no more food debris comes out.
2. Floss all teeth and rinse again with plain water
3. Use interdentals - tepe silicone dipped in toothpaste and the coloured wire ones - choose the colours depending on teeth the size. I use purple, yellow and red.
4. Rinse again
5. Use a mouthwash (fluoride addition useful) - shower and leave mouthwash in your mouth swooshing during your ablutions. Contact time can be a couple of minutes.
6. Use Oral B Pro or a similar toothbrush and brush gently but firmly for at least two minutes with Colgate Total toothpaste. Don't rinse leave the toothpaste on your teeth.
7. I use a soft toothbrush to go over the gum teeth areas.
8. Finally a tongue cleaner
9. After any meal swill your mouth with plain water to reduce food debris and use tepe silicone interdentals to remove debris from between teeth.

I used to have a lot of problems with my teeth - no longer and have talked through my routine with dental students at Guys Dental School which I attend from time to time and they declared it a perfect if somewhat laborious routine. Have perfect gums and most gum 'pockets' are 0.

Oh and avoid fizzy/sugary drinks and foods or if you must use a straw and riunse way with plain water after.

Brush twice a day with sonicare brush before bed and before breakfast (timed on longest setting). Plus tongue scraper to remove debris.

Interdental brushes twice a day, usually whilst watching tv.

Low/no added sugar.

You will probably damage your enamel and cause more problems down the line - be very careful with oxidising/abrasive products.

@vera99 @fleurdelee intermittent use won't do much harm, yes it does help with stains. Sure it's the active ingredient in tooth whitening products.