Actively and regularly taking care of your teeth reduces the risk of tooth decay and provides a more beautiful smile. In addition to providing more beautiful teeth, good oral hygiene also prevents infections and diseases. Here is a list of 5 things that are important to know about dental care.
The importance of taking care of your teeth
Taking care of your teeth yourself using the correct methods and techniques is important for good oral hygiene and to avoid diseases and pain in the mouth and teeth. Your own daily prevention should be supplemented with regular visits to a dentist to ensure there is no tooth decay and to avoid dental problems.
The consequences of not taking care of your teeth
Healthy and intact teeth are a very large part of our well-being and health. Toothaches, sensitive teeth, and poor dental status affect our quality of life negatively. Healthy teeth also affect our self-esteem—a beautiful smile always makes a good impression.
Simple methods for better teeth
The simplest methods for taking care of your teeth are to brush your teeth twice a day (2 minutes per occasion) and to use dental floss regularly. Brushing your teeth is a matter of course for most people. What is not a matter of course, however, is which toothbrush to choose. Below is a brief explanation of what you should consider.
The single most important thing to consider when choosing a toothbrush is that it should be easy to reach all teeth. A standard manual toothbrush can clean just as well as an electric toothbrush with the right technique. The difference between the two is that an electric toothbrush cleans tooth by tooth and it is important to follow the shape of the tooth, while a manual toothbrush “scrubs” the teeth clean. Another important detail is that the brush head on an electric toothbrush is not large enough to hold the recommended amount of toothpaste. Therefore, you need to add more toothpaste after one jaw is brushed.
Neither a conventional toothbrush nor an electric toothbrush can reach to clean between the teeth. This is why dentists remind us that toothbrushing should be supplemented with dental floss, flosser picks, or other methods to clean between the teeth.
Fluoride toothpaste and fluoride rinse counteract cavities
Fluorine or fluoride is found naturally in many different foods as well as in drinking water in Sweden. Fluoride is important for preventing cavities and protecting tooth enamel. The introduction of toothpaste with fluoride has played a very large part in Sweden’s generally good dental health.
Like most other substances, fluoride has side effects if overdosed. Fluoride in the dose recommended by dentists and Swedish dental care does not cause any side effects. Recommended dose of fluoride toothpaste:
- Adults: 2 cm at each occasion
- 6-11 years: 1 cm at each occasion
- 6 months – 5 years: a dab the size of the child’s pinky nail at each occasion.
Fluoride rinse is a supplement to toothbrushing and does not replace the need to brush your teeth. Usually, fluoride rinse is recommended for people who have problems with cavities or dry mouth, as well as people with braces, partial dentures, dental implants, bridges, or crowns. But it can also be good to supplement with mouthwash to improve oral hygiene. Using fluoride rinse immediately after a meal is also a good way to protect tooth enamel.
Avoiding teeth grinding
Many people have problems with teeth grinding in Malmö and in Sweden. Often it is because the bite is not correct, which the chewing muscles try to compensate for by working (grinding). Stress and sleep disorders can be another cause. Not addressing the problem can lead to tooth wear, headaches, and pain and stiffness in the jaw muscles and jaw joints. The best way to avoid these problems is to get a bite splint for teeth grinding. Such a device is designed by a professional dentist and a skilled dental technician.
Do you have questions about dental care in Malmö or want to book dental care in Malmö? Contact us at TandCity!
“The text above is written for online marketing purposes. The opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TandCity.”
