Even with careful daily care, 30–40% of the resulting plaque remains on the surface of the teeth. After all, it is not possible to fully clean the interdental spaces and subgingival spaces with a brush, few use dental floss, and only a few use a home irrigator. Therefore, it is advisable to undergo professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar twice a year.
Professional hygiene includes diagnostics of existing dental problems and subsequent step-by-step cleaning of plaque and stone. If necessary, local anesthesia is used.
First, soft and hard deposits are removed from the visible surfaces of the teeth and from the spaces between them using ultrasound. In this case, the enamel is not damaged, because plaque and stone seem to peel off from it. At the next stage, the subgingival spaces are treated. To do this, use special hand tools that do not damage teeth and, if used correctly, do not injure gums.
If the plaque is pigmented (from tea, coffee, nicotine, some medications), then in addition to ultrasound, an Air Flow device is used. He cleans his teeth using a jet spray of sodium bicarbonate aerosol.
After removing the stone, it is necessary to polish the enamel, which will protect it from the attachment of bacteria and the deposition of plaque. To do this, polishing pastes are used, which are applied with special attachments in the form of brushes and rubber bands. And in places where teeth touch, special strips are used.
At the final stage of professional cleaning, fluoride-containing varnish is applied to the enamel. This product gives her additional protection and relieves increased sensitivity treated teeth.
Products for oral hygiene at home
For complete oral care at home, you will need a set of several products. Often people limit themselves to a toothbrush and toothpaste, but this does not allow for proper cleaning of the interdental spaces. But bacteria and food debris accumulate here. Therefore, it is advisable to additionally use other means.
Toothbrushes
The toothbrush is selected individually. When purchasing it, you need to take into account the stiffness of the bristles, size, and ease of grip of the handle. Most people use medium-hard brushes. Soft bristles will be needed for cleaning sensitive teeth and bleeding gums, and hard bristles - for completely healthy teeth and for the care of dentures. You should brush your teeth twice a day for about 2 minutes. The brush should be changed every 3 months.
Toothpastes
Toothpaste is an important oral care product. Pastes are therapeutic and prophylactic, cream and gel-like, with different fluoride content. Medicinal pastes are selected only on the recommendation of a doctor; you should not independently purchase specialized oral hygiene products for prevention.
Toothpaste should be changed every few months. In some cases, it may be necessary to use several agents with different effects. For example, if you are predisposed to the development of caries and periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontal tissues), the dentist may recommend brushing your teeth with an anti-caries paste in the morning, and with an anti-inflammatory paste in the evening.
Manufacturers offer a huge range various means that help make your smile irresistible. How to choose them and what should you pay attention to?Choosing oral hygiene products is not as simple as it seems at first glance: there are no universal pastes and brushes, and preparations and brush configurations that are unsuitable in composition can not only be ineffective, but also cause harm to teeth and gums. To avoid making a mistake with your purchase, it is recommended to first visit your dentist. During the consultation, the doctor will give advice and help you make a choice by assessing the condition of your oral cavity.
Range of oral hygiene products
The main oral hygiene products are toothpastes, mouth rinses, toothbrushes, brushes and dental floss. Their main task is to remove plaque and prevent its re-formation.
Toothbrushes
To buy a quality brush, you need to pay attention to criteria such as the shape of its head, the comfort of the handle, as well as the length and stiffness of the bristles.
It is better to give preference to brushes with multi-level bristles: they help clean teeth even in the most difficult to reach places. As for the stiffness of the bristles, there are three levels: soft, medium and hard - depending on individual preferences and the characteristics of the teeth and gums.
Electric toothbrushes with vibration are considered more effective than regular ones, as they are better at removing plaque and massaging the gums.
Keep toothbrush necessary in a vertical position with the head
up, and change to a new one - 3-4 times a year. After each cleaning
The toothbrush should be rinsed thoroughly with water.
Options: electric toothbrush Oral-B Vitality 3D White Luxe (estimated cost - 1100 rubles); electric toothbrush Philips HX1630 (estimated cost - 869 rubles); Aquafresh 3-Way Head toothbrush (estimated cost - 120 rubles).
Toothpastes
All toothpastes, depending on the composition, are divided into therapeutic and preventive and hygienic, and can also be divided into age categories: for children, adolescents, adults and for people using dentures.
Hygienic toothpastes
Hygienic toothpastes do not contain special therapeutic and preventive additives and only have a cleansing and refreshing effect, but now they can hardly be found on sale, since most manufacturers include various additives in their oral hygiene products.
Therapeutic and prophylactic toothpastes
Contains biologically active additives: vitamins, plant extracts, salts, microelements and others useful material. Designed for everyday oral care and prevention various diseases: caries, periodontal disease, non-carious lesions, diseases of the oral mucosa and other dental health problems.
Such pastes can be anti-inflammatory, whitening, remove plaque from coffee and tea, anti-caries, salt-based, for sensitive teeth, and some of these products combine a number of therapeutic and prophylactic properties.
Options: toothpaste R.O.C.S. “The taste of pleasure. Chocolate and mint” (estimated cost - 200 rubles); BLANX Med toothpaste (estimated cost - 418 rubles); “PARODONTOL” cedar toothpaste (estimated cost - 37 rubles).
Mouth rinses
Many manufacturers, as additions to their pastes, produce rinses containing active ingredients. They prevent gum inflammation, plaque formation on teeth and caries, and also give fresh breath. To achieve optimal results, it is better to choose a rinse aid from the same brand and line as the paste. It is necessary to rinse your mouth every time after brushing your teeth, as well as after meals.
Options: Asepta Fresh mouth rinse (estimated cost - 130 rubles); rinse for gums with oak and fir bark extracts “Forest Balsam” (estimated cost - 62 rubles); Organic SPLAT mouth rinse (estimated cost - 135 rubles).
Brushes and dental flosses
The need to use dental floss and brushes is sufficient controversial issue for many people. Dentists believe that such additional dental care products are necessary, as they help remove plaque and excess food in the most inaccessible places - the interdental spaces. However, they must be used very carefully so as not to damage the teeth and gums.
Dental floss can be round or flat with various impregnations or treated with wax, and brushes differ in size, diameter and stiffness of the bristles.
Options: dental floss Trisa Dental floss super-tape Waxed (estimated cost - 109 rubles); Jordan Floss “Easy glide” whitening dental floss (estimated cost: RUB 156); Paro Isola brushes (estimated cost - 150 rubles).
Flosses and brushes are suitable for those who have fairly large interdental spaces.
gaps. If they are too small, use these
products are not recommended, as they can damage the gums.
Braces care products
For those who straighten their teeth with braces, special care products are recommended: toothbrushes with a V-shaped neckline, monotuft brushes and brushes. They help to effectively clean the orthodontic structure itself, as well as the areas between the teeth and the arch, from food debris. These tools are often sold in kits designed for cleaning braces, along with instructions for use.
Options: President bracket set (estimated cost - 650 rubles); orthodontic toothbrush Colgate ORTO (estimated cost - 89 rubles); cleaning kit for Piave Dental Care braces (estimated cost - 488 rubles).
Denture care products
Fixed dentures should be cleaned with a soft brush that has a massage effect and does not injure the mucous membrane. For removable and partially removable dentures stiffer double-sided brushes are made: zigzag bristles are designed to handle outer surface prosthesis, and a small rounded one - for cleaning the inner surface adjacent to the oral mucosa. Dentures also need to be soaked weekly in solutions using special cleaning tablets.
Options: Fittydent cleaning tablets for cleaning removable and partially removable dentures (estimated cost - 200 rubles); effervescent tablets for cleaning LACALUT dent dentures (estimated cost - 295 rubles); brush for cleaning removable dentures Fuchs (estimated cost - 150 rubles).
Expert: Alesya Aleshkina, orthodontist
Katerina Kapustina
Proper oral care is absolutely common for modern people.
How to carry out the correct care procedure and what products to use, as well as how to care for oral cavity in special cases, further in the material.
Basic Rules
High-quality results are ensured by comprehensive oral care.
For a healthy smile, you need to follow a set of dental care procedures every day:
- clean them;
- use dental floss or toothpicks to clean the space between your teeth from remaining pieces of food;
- use rinse aids;
- rinse your mouth after every meal saline solution, rinse aid or warm water;
Timely change of accessories for brushing teeth is also one of the important points of care. Old toothbrushes have a traumatic effect on the surface of the enamel, gums and mucous membranes of the oral cavity. The toothbrush must be changed every 1.5-2 months.
You should also monitor the expiration date of the hygiene products used. If the expiration date expires, the product must be changed. Purchasing products for comprehensive oral care will cost, on average, much lower than the current cost of dental services.
You should brush your teeth twice a day: after and before bed.
This frequency of treatment is selected to ensure optimal care.
The duration of the teeth cleaning procedure should be at least 3 minutes.
To control the time of the procedure, you can use an hourglass, as many dentists advise.
The dental office must be visited for a routine examination 2 times a year, as well as if there are any complaints or suspicions of diseases of the oral cavity.
Oral care products
Toothbrush
A toothbrush is main subject oral hygiene.
When purchasing a brush, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
Electric and regular toothbrush
Toothbrushes are also classified into:
- manual;
- electrical;
Battery-powered electric brushes can reduce the time required for the procedure, as well as provide better cleansing of bacteria and plaque in the oral cavity.
There are various models of electric brushes: with a timer, removable brush heads, and others. They also vary in price.
There is an opinion among dentists that frequent use of electrical devices increases the risk of inflammatory processes in the gums and can also cause teeth to become loose.
Dental floss
Dental floss is also an important oral care device. They make it easy to clean the interdental space after eating.
There are several types of dental floss:
- round. The the view is suitable people with large interdental spaces;
- volumetric. They swell when wetted and are suitable for any type of teeth;
- flat. They clean the teeth well at small intervals;
- tape Suitable for gentle cleansing of teeth with large interdental spaces.
Using floss allows you to reduce the risk of oral diseases to a minimum, as well as maintain freshness and cleanliness of the oral cavity without additional procedures.
Toothpaste
No teeth cleaning procedure is complete without toothpaste. Multi-ingredient toothpastes reduce the friction of tooth bristles on enamel, and also have a healing effect on teeth and gums.
The composition of toothpaste may include: fluoride, calcium, phosphates, abrasive particles, whitening, antiseptic components and other compounds.
There are many various types toothpastes, mainly preparations are classified into:
- hygienic;
- treatment and prophylactic;
- medicinal.
IN Everyday life people use the first two types of toothpastes depending on their preferences.
The third type is intended for use by people suffering from dental or gum diseases. To reduce sensitivity or, whitening or comprehensive care, you should choose different pastes. Sometimes it is recommended to change their types.
When choosing oral care products, customers should pay attention to the purpose of the paste and individual needs.
Rinse aids
Mouth rinses allow you to give the oral cavity freshness, a pleasant smell and clean the interdental space from food debris without the need for a brushing procedure.
When wearing orthodontic structures, the use of rinses is mandatory.
There are several types of rinses:
- antiseptic. Aimed at cleansing the oral cavity from bacteria;
- medicinal. Aimed at caring for gums and eliminating inflammation.
There are many rinse aids from different companies. Oral care products should be tailored to individual needs: determine the purpose of using the product and choose the appropriate one.
Caring for the oral cavity of a seriously ill patient
Seriously ill people are not able to independently provide themselves with the necessary oral hygiene. To avoid the processes of erosion and decay, it is necessary to regularly help the patient brush his teeth.
Hygienic care of the patient's oral cavity is carried out using a soft toothbrush, which is not capable of damaging the mucous membranes.
If the patient is conscious, oral care for the patient is as follows:
- help the patient place his head in the correct position;
- put a towel under your chin, place a container on the towel for spitting;
- rinse your mouth with water;
- put on gloves, squeeze the paste onto the toothbrush and, using sweeping movements, clean from the incisors to the chewing teeth on all sides of the dentition;
- ask the patient to spit out the paste several times during the procedure;
- rinse your mouth;
- If necessary, lubricate the surface of the lips with Vaseline.
If you have dentures, they must be removed and this procedure performed without the participation of the patient.
After tooth extraction
- eat food within 2-3 hours;
- drink hot drinks;
- do not smoke or drink alcohol for a day;
- accept water procedures in very hot water;
- experience intense physical activity;
- touch the area of the extracted tooth with your tongue or other objects;
- make intense movements with the muscles of the mouth.
Features of care after tooth extraction:
- In the first few days, intensive mouth rinsing is not recommended. This can cause tissue damage and subsequent bleeding;
- Intensive cleaning of the damaged area is prohibited. It is best to go around the hole with a toothbrush in a circle;
- in the presence of painful sensations It is recommended to take analgesic medications prescribed by a doctor;
- When applying, apply ice wrapped in a towel to your cheek. Keep the area cold for no more than half an hour.
The gauze pad that holds back the blood must be removed half an hour after the procedure. If the bleeding does not stop, you should contact your doctor again.
After dental implantation
So that after the procedure they do not appear possible complications, oral care after dental implantation should be carried out in accordance with the following recommendations:
- It is not recommended to chew with implants for several days, especially if the food is hard or fibrous;
- smoking, drinking alcoholic and hot drinks is prohibited during the day;
- After the procedure, it is recommended to avoid brushing the installed tooth for several days. Instead, it is recommended to use special rinses;
- in the first days it is necessary to eat only chilled drinks and dishes;
- It is not recommended to touch the implant frequently, as it may be damaged;
- It is necessary to ensure sleep on a higher surface so that the head is in the correct position. To do this, you need to use several pillows;
- in the presence of pain syndrome It is recommended to take painkillers.
Implantation is a rather complex and expensive procedure, so care for the implanted tooth should be of the highest quality.
Features of hygiene procedures for children
To regular and proper care care of the oral cavity must be taught with early age. To clean children's teeth, there are special children's toothpastes and brushes designed for baby teeth.
As soon as the child's first teeth appear, parents need to provide for them regular care. When a child becomes older and can carry out the cleaning procedure independently, the parents’ task is to ensure proper care.
For children, oral care algorithm is as follows:
- must be applied to the toothbrush toothpaste the size of a pea;
- the child should not swallow the paste;
- movements must be correct: sweeping, but not circular;
- the procedure time must be at least three minutes;
- it is necessary to clean the surface of the tongue and cheeks;
- Parents should help the child complete brushing his teeth if he does not do it well enough and plaque remains on the enamel.
The future health of a child’s smile depends on the hygiene skills acquired in childhood. If you turn the procedure into a game, the child will be happy to take care of the oral cavity.
Useful video
In this episode of the “Live Healthy” program, Elena Malysheva and her medical colleagues talk about how to care for your oral cavity:
We all want to have a healthy and snow-white smile, but not everyone knows what to do for this. You can buy an expensive toothpaste and toothbrush from an advertisement, but often this is not enough. To keep your teeth healthy, your breath fresh, and gum problems never overtake you, a simple but proper hygiene oral hygiene should become a daily ritual for you. In this article we will tell you what oral care should be like, what means exist for this, and the rules for brushing your teeth that everyone should know..
Oral care rules
If you haven't done them all before, it's never too late to introduce them into your life. You will be surprised how easy it is to provide your teeth and gums with proper care, which will quickly become a habit:
- Rule #1: You need to brush your teeth 2 times a day, before going to bed in the evening and after going to bed in the morning.
- Rule No. 2: do not forget about preventive examinations at the dentist once every six months. If you follow this rule, you will be able to prevent gum and tooth disease in the early stages of development.
- Rule No. 3: choosing teeth cleaning products is a serious matter. You shouldn’t buy the first paste you come across, and the brush needs to be changed at least once every 3 months.
- Rule #4: Oral care doesn’t end with brushing your teeth: don’t forget about your tongue, cheeks and gums.
- Rule No. 5: After every meal, you must remove leftover food. Ideally, you should brush your teeth with toothpaste and a brush, but in practice this is most often impossible. Therefore, you can use an affordable alternative: mouth rinses cope with this task with a bang, removing food particles and freshening your breath. And at work or school, chewing gum will come to the rescue.
- Rule #6: Use dental floss to clean spaces between teeth.
- Rule No. 7: fluoride substances in the paste begin to “work” 3 minutes after contact with the tooth. You need to brush your teeth for at least this amount of time, because you want to not only clean, but also strengthen the enamel.
Teeth need to be brushed correctly, then oral care will be of high quality. By removing all plaque, you will protect your teeth from caries, and your gums from gingivitis, periodontitis and other diseases. The step-by-step scheme for cleaning the oral cavity is as follows:
Oral hygiene will not take you more than 10 minutes in the morning and evening. Do everything right and your teeth and gums will be healthy. Now let's learn more about oral hygiene products.
Choosing oral care products
Oral hygiene products are also important in quality care. We will help you do right choice, telling you what you need to pay attention to when buying.
Choosing pasta
Forget all the advertisements you saw on TV. When choosing toothpaste, you don’t have to buy the most expensive one available in the store. Whether it is a domestic manufacturer or a foreign one also does not play a major role. The compositions of the pastes are most often identical. What you need to pay attention to is the fluoride content. Products with fluoride are only suitable for the prevention of caries, but if this scourge has already befallen you, fluoride-containing toothpastes will only worsen the condition of your teeth. Pay attention to the purpose of the product. For daily use, you need a therapeutic-and-prophylactic or complex paste, but be careful with bleaching ones. When choosing a whitening paste, it is better to consult your dentist.
Choosing a brush
Toothbrushes are primarily divided into electric and conventional for manual cleaning. The former cope with the task better, but are also more expensive. It is recommended to change attachments as often as a regular brush, so the question of choice quite often comes down to finances. An electric toothbrush can easily clean the furthest teeth without you having to make any effort: just move the brush from tooth to tooth. When choosing electric brush, pay attention to the nozzle itself. It can be simply cleansing or whitening. The type of power supply is also important: brushes with batteries are cheaper, but with a battery they are more convenient.
A regular hand brush comes in 3 levels of hardness: soft, medium and hard. Soft bristles are gentle on teeth and gums, but do not clean well, while hard bristles are too aggressive. Dentists advise choosing the golden mean - medium-hard bristles.
Choosing floss threads
All dental floss is thin fibers twisted together. The choice of this oral care product is quite large. More expensive threads are made from silk fibers, while cheaper options are made from synthetic fibers. Floss threads can be lubricated, ungreased, fluoridated, flat, round, embossed, and scented. Dentists recommend choosing a flat lubricated thread - it is more convenient to use and reduces the risk of gum injury. Waxed threads are suitable for beginners; they are stronger and therefore ideal for first attempts. If you want to provide your teeth with additional protection against caries, use fluoridated floss.
Choosing a rinse aid
The rinse aid has wide range Actions: removes plaque, kills bacteria, freshens breath, heals wounds, prevents caries. Designed for different purposes different types rinses: therapeutic and preventive. The main purpose of preventative rinses is to keep your breath fresh. But medicinal ones can be intended to combat inflammation, bleeding gums, and tooth sensitivity. Initially, you need to decide on the task that the rinse aid will need to perform. Prophylactic products are suitable for daily use.
And in conclusion, I would like to note the importance of regularly visiting the dentist for professional oral cleaning. For example, if you have a problem such as bleeding gums, rinse with herbal decoctions and use special pastes will not solve the problem completely, but if you contact a specialist, professional teeth cleaning with Air Flow will correct the situation in half an hour.
Take care of your oral cavity and be healthy!
