What Is The Most Effective Teeth Cleaning Method?
Good oral hygiene is vital for a healthy, beautiful, functional smile and overall well-being. While most people only pay attention to regular brushing and flossing, it may not be enough to maintain healthy teeth, gums, and jawbone.
In addition to brushing and flossing, you can consider other teeth-cleaning methods for optimal oral and overall health. This article explores some of the most effective teeth-cleaning methods to incorporate into your overall oral hygiene habits.
Types of Dental Cleaning Methods
- Brushing at least twice daily
Brushing your teeth is essential for removing debris and bacterial plaque buildup in the mouth. This reduces your risk of oral problems like gum disease, enamel erosion, bad breath, and tooth decay. Insufficient or incorrect brushing can also cause dental problems. Below are common tips for brushing effectively:
- Choose the right toothbrush. Ensure you use a soft-bristled brush to avoid hurting the gums or tongue or eroding the tooth enamel. An electric toothbrush is typically more effective in removing bacterial deposits and debris than a manual brush.
- Brush twice daily. Brushing twice daily, morning and night, helps reduce harmful bacteria and debris in the mouth, reducing your risk of oral issues.
- Brush for at least 2 minutes at a time. Brushing too fast may not sufficiently remove all the bacteria and debris from the mouth, increasing your risk of oral issues. Experts recommend spending at least two minutes for thorough brushing.
- Use the right technique. To brush effectively, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and make gentle circular motions to clean all the surfaces of your teeth. Remember to clean your tongue and mouth roof as well.
- Use fluoride toothpaste. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste helps remineralize your teeth, protecting them from infections and fractures.
- Flossing at least once daily
While most people often skip flossing occasionally, this can significantly increase your risk of oral problems. Flossing helps remove debris, and plaque stuck deep between your teeth, lowering your risk of oral problems. Below are effective tips for proper flossing:
- Use enough floss. Ensure your floss threader is adequate, about 18 inches, to effectively clean between teeth.
- Be gentle. Aggressive flossing can erode your teeth and hurt your gums. When flossing, gently guide the floss between your teeth and slide it up and down against the tooth surfaces and gum line for effective flossing.
- Floss before brushing. Brushing after flossing helps remove all the harmful bacteria and debris between your teeth for optimal oral hygiene and health.
- Floss daily. Floss at least once daily.
- Regular professional cleanings
Even with good oral health and daily hygiene, dental experts recommend having professional teeth cleanings near you every six months. These cleanings help remove stubborn bacterial buildup on the teeth and around the gum line. If not cleaned promptly, these deposits can erode your teeth and infect your gums, causing gum disease and decay.
- Deep cleaning
If not cleaned promptly, bacterial plaque and tartar can develop on the teeth and under the gum line, making them harder to clean with daily brushing and flossing or regular dental cleanings. In such cases, you might need deep dental cleaning.
In most cases, deep cleaning or scaling and root planing are necessary for patients with gum disease or receding gums. The procedure involves using special dental tools like scalers (ultrasonic or manual) to remove plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and under the gum line. The dentist or hygienist also smoothens teeth roots.
Removing plaque under the gum line and from the teeth roots promote gum healing and allow the gums to reattach to the teeth. If not cleaned, these bacterial deposits can lead to decay, gum disease, bone loss, and tooth loss.
Visit Our Dental Office for Teeth Cleaning Near You
Effective teeth cleaning promotes healthy teeth, gums, jawbone, and mouth. In addition, incorporating professional teeth cleaning is essential for optimal oral and overall health. For more information about dental cleanings, contact We Care Dental to book a consultation with our dentist in Phoenix, AZ.