Tips to keep your teeth healthy

Tips to keep your teeth healthy

To prevent dental wear and tooth decay, good dental care is essential. What exactly does good oral care consist of? And what are the most effective care tips for healthy and radiant teeth? We have approached several experts in the field of oral care with the request to make a recommendation to keep your teeth healthy. Based on these recommendations, we have prepared a list of tips.

The importance of good dental care

The moment dental care disappears into the background, your teeth become susceptible to tooth decay. Dental plaque, a colorless layer of bacteria, is the main cause of this. Dental plaque builds up continuously on the surface of the teeth as a result of eating and drinking. If these bacteria can go on undisturbed, this can eventually lead to sensitive, painful teeth and even cavities or worse. In addition, it can affect the appearance of your teeth.

Tip 1Nutrition and eating and drinking moments

It is very important to limit the number of eating times per day to keep the teeth in a healthy state.

" It is important to have no more than 7 eating or drinking moments in a day. With the exception of water, every eating and drinking moment reduces the acidity in the mouth, which can lead to erosion of the hard tooth material and cavities, ' says Yvette van der Wal (dental hygienist).

The food you choose, for example food that contains a lot of sugars, also affects the health of your teeth. Your diet largely influences the speed at which tooth decay gets a chance. Food comes into direct contact with the bacteria that live in your mouth, which convert the sugars and starches in the food into acid. The more you eat and the longer food stays in the mouth, the more acid is produced which affects your teeth. It concerns both natural (fruit, vegetables) and added (candy, soft drink) sugars. Products you may not expect also contain sugars, such as milk, bread and vegetables. In addition, there are products that are already acidic in themselves that can damage the teeth, for example apples.

Tip 2Brushing frequency and toothbrush

Given the current insights to keep your teeth healthy, it is advisable to brush your teeth at least twice a day.

" The secret to healthy teeth? In addition to brushing twice a day, using a toothpick or brush for the spaces in between, ' says Jelly Dijkstra (dental hygienist). And 'preferably with an electric toothbrush with a fluorine-containing toothpaste,' Yvette van der Wal adds.

With an electric toothbrush, faster and different movements can be made with the brush. In this way, the teeth can be cleaned better in the same time than with a manual toothbrush. The electric brushes also guarantee the brushing time: the longer you brush, the more plaque is removed. Many electric brushes therefore have a built-in timer that ensures that you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes.

Another advantage of the electric toothbrush over the manual toothbrush is the pressure exerted on the teeth and gums. With a hand brush, as a rule, 100 grams more pressure is applied than is good for the teeth. There are even electric brushes that have a built-in warning system against brushing under too high a pressure.

Tip 3Brushes and toothpicks

" Use brushes daily!" , said the dental hygienists working at the Bres . Other experts, as has already become clear above, also emphasize the importance of using tools such as toothpicks and brushes to properly clean gaps. When the interdental space is large, a brushier offers a solution. You can get these in different shapes and sizes, depending on the space between your teeth. It is important to choose the right size, a brush that is too small does not clean enough and a brush that is too large can damage the enamel or gums. Are you in doubt? The dentist or dental hygienist can advise you which size to use in your case.

Tip 4Visit the dental hygienist

"Dental hygienists promote health in the broadest sense of the word. In my opinion, advice for healthy teeth is a good risk inventory for what is found in the mouth, coupled with good maintenance advice." Says Simone Hackenitz-Hoogendoorn (dental hygienist).

A regular visit to the dentist or dental hygienist ensures good external control of your teeth. In this way, 'instructions regarding the proper cleaning of teeth and molars to prevent cavities and gum infections' can also be given in a timely manner