What are the components of a good brushing and flossing routine?

Brushing and flossing are both integral to your oral hygiene routine, but there are also some other essential elements. To help you best maintain your oral health and keep your teeth and gums disease-free, our Victoria dentists will outline some specific steps below. 

Brushing

Brushing your teeth is likely the most important thing you'll do to maintain your oral health on a daily basis. Brush two or three times a day, for two minutes at a time. 

For ideal results, brush each "quadrant" of your teeth (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) for 30 seconds. Brush all the exposed surfaces of your teeth carefully, including the fronts, backs and biting surfaces, of each tooth. 

Tip: Try an Electric Toothbrush

You may find it easier to clean your teeth with an electric toothbrush. These require less effort than manual brushes since they perform the correct brushing movement for you. Choose an electric toothbrush with a round, rotating head, since this makes the ideal circular and brushing motion. 

Also, the smaller head of an electric toothbrush will make it easier to clean those awkward, hard-to-reach spaces such as your back molars and the backs of your front teeth. 

Flossing

We recommend flossing at least once per day, preferably at night before bed. By flossing regularly, you'll dislodge food buildup and debris from between your teeth in the places you're unable to reach with your toothbrush. 

Place the floss between two teeth and run it up and down the side of each, pulling it into a "c" shape in both directions. Proceed slowly and thoroughly, and be sure to floss between every two teeth. 

Professional Dental Cleanings & Check-ups

Visiting the dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and check-up is essential to maintaining oral health.

Your dentist has the expertise and tools required to remove plaque and tartar build-up that you can't remove yourself with brushing and flossing.

Your dentist will also be able to identify dental problems in the beginning stages if they see you often enough, and treat them before they get worse. Oral health problems like cavities, gum disease and even tumours, cysts and other abnormalities are often not noticeable to the untrained eye in their early stages, so it's important to get your mouth evaluated regularly by a dental professional.

Diet

Eating a healthy diet that’s rich in calcium helps keep your teeth healthy from the inside out. Restrict consumption of sugars and starches, because oral bacteria thrive on these.

Hydration

Staying hydrated can help prevent cavities! Drinking plenty of water will help you maintain a sufficient saliva flow, and saliva washes away the food particles that collect on your teeth and allow bacteria to multiply.

Supplementary Hygiene Aids

Oral hygiene aids are additions to your brushing and flossing routine. Good examples of supplementary hygiene aids include tongue cleaners, mouthwash, interdental cleaners, and oral irrigators.

These aids can help you keep your breath fresh, and prevent plaque from building up between brushing and flossing sessions. While they are not sufficient replacements for a thorough brushing and flossing routine, they can definitely help improve it.

If you have questions about how to improve your brushing and flossing routine, we can help! Contact our Victoria dentists today.