The ultimate guide to cleaning your teeth and gums

Posted on 5/16/2023

Everything you need to know about cleaning your teeth and gums.

In our article on everything you need to know about oral health, we discussed that practicing great oral hygiene is very important for your overall health. But, with so much information available online, it can be hard to decide what to do. We will go over all that you really want to know about oral hygiene in this blog post, from how to brush and floss to picking the right toothbrush and toothpaste. Whether you’re new to dental hygiene or just need a refresher, this guide will help you keep your smile looking and feeling great.

How to clean your teeth and gums (step by step guide)

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Regularly brushing your teeth and gums, flossing, using mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups can result in great oral health. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your teeth and gums properly:

Choose the right toothbrush

Selecting the right toothbrush is crucial for cleaning your teeth and gums effectively. It’s recommended to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. A toothbrush with soft bristles will prevent damage to the tooth enamel and gums while still removing plaque and bacteria. A small head will help you reach all areas of your mouth more easily, including the hard-to-reach places.

Apply toothpaste to your toothbrush

Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto your toothbrush. Toothpaste contains ingredients like fluoride that help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The fluoride in toothpaste helps to strengthen the enamel of your teeth, making them more resistant to acid attacks.

Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth

Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth, pointing the bristles towards the gum line. This will allow you to clean your teeth and gums more effectively. Using a circular motion, brush the outer surfaces of your teeth, making sure to clean one section at a time. Don’t forget to brush the chewing surfaces of your molars and premolars as well.

Brush the inside surfaces of your teeth

Clean the inside surfaces of your teeth using the same circular motion as before. It’s important to pay extra attention to the back teeth, which are more prone to cavities and gum disease. You can also use a back-and-forth motion to clean the tops of your front teeth.

Clean your tongue

Bacteria can accumulate on your tongue, causing bad breath and other oral health issues. Use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clean your tongue gently. Start at the back of your tongue and move forward, scraping or brushing in a back-and-forth motion. Rinse your mouth with water to remove any debris.

Floss your teeth

Flossing is an essential step in your oral hygiene routine. It helps to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line. Take a piece of floss about 18 inches long and wrap it around your fingers. Gently guide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion, making sure to curve the floss around the base of each tooth. Be gentle, as excessive force can cause bleeding or damage to your gums.

Rinse your mouth with water

Rinse your mouth with water to remove any remaining toothpaste and debris. Swish the water around your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.

Use mouthwash

Mouthwash can help kill bacteria and freshen your breath. It’s best to use an alcohol-free mouthwash, as alcohol can dry out your mouth. Swish the mouthwash around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.

Replace your toothbrush regularly

It’s important to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed or worn out. Too much use with a toothbrush can cause gum and tooth damage as well as a poor cleaning.

In addition to the above steps, it’s essential to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks, as they can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake. Finally, make sure to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings. Your dentist can help you maintain good oral

Common tooth brushing mistakes to avoid

Cleaning your teeth is important for your oral cleanliness schedule. Be that as it may, it’s not just about the method and the toothbrush you use. To ensure that you are taking proper care of your teeth and gums, there are some things to avoid while brushing. When brushing your teeth, avoid the following:

Brushing excessively hard

Cleaning your teeth too hard can be harmful to your teeth and gums. It can make the polish on your teeth erode, making your teeth more delicate to hot and cold food sources and beverages. Brushing too hard can likewise make your gums subside, uncovering the touchy foundations of your teeth. Using a toothbrush with a soft bristle and brushing with light pressure is essential.

Using the wrong toothbrush

Using the wrong toothbrush can have the same negative effects as brushing too hard. A small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush is recommended. A toothbrush with delicate fibres will prevent harm to the tooth polish and gums while as yet eliminating plaque and microscopic organisms. A little head will assist you with arriving at all regions of your mouth all the more effectively, including the hard-to-arrive at places.

Too much brushing

Too much brushing can make it difficult to remove all of the plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums. Cleaning your teeth for something like two minutes two times every day is suggested. Set a clock or utilize an electric toothbrush with an implicit clock to guarantee that you are cleaning your teeth for the suggested measure of time.

Using the wrong toothpaste

Some toothpastes are better than others. Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste to help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and make them more resistant to acid attacks. Toothpaste that contains abrasives that can harm your teeth’s enamel must also be avoided.

Brushing after eating

Cleaning your teeth following eating acidic food sources or beverages can harm your tooth enamel. Your enamel may become softer as a result of the acid in foods and beverages, and brushing right after can cause the enamel to wear away. Waiting for something like 30 minutes after eating prior to cleaning your teeth is suggested.

Using the wrong brushing technique

Cleaning your teeth with the wrong technique can harm your teeth and gums. Holding your toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees to your teeth and pointing the bristles toward the gum line is essential. You’ll be able to clean your teeth and gums better with this. Brush the outer surfaces of your teeth in a circular motion, cleaning one section at a time. Brush the surfaces of your molars and premolars that are used for chewing as well.

Neglecting to floss

Flossing is an essential part of good oral hygiene. It assists in the removal of plaque and food particles from under the gum line and between your teeth. If you don’t floss, you are missing up to 40% of your tooth surfaces. Floss something like once every day to guarantee that you are eliminating all the plaque and microorganisms from your teeth and gums.

Rinsing your mouth after brushing

It may sound odd, but it’s actually better not to rinse just after brushing your teeth. If you rinse too soon you will get rid of all the toothpaste in your mouth. The fluoride in the toothpaste needs some time to settle and work its magic on your teeth and gums. Wait about half an hour before using mouthwash to rinse your mouth out.

Not replacing your toothbrush regularly

It’s important to change your toothbrush each three to four months, or sooner assuming the fibers become frayed or broken down. A worn-out toothbrush can damage your teeth and gums as well as not effectively clean them.

Not cleaning your toothbrush

Cleaning your toothbrush may not be something that enters your thoughts frequently, yet it is a significant piece of keeping up with great oral cleanliness. After all, you wouldn’t want to use a dirty toothbrush again, right? After each use, all you need to do to clean your toothbrush is thoroughly rinse it under running water. You can also absorb it in antibacterial mouthwash for a couple of moments to eliminate any waiting microbes. On the other hand, you can use an UV toothbrush sanitizer that uses UV light to kill microbes on your toothbrush.

Do you need to clean your tongue?

Cleaning your tongue is important for keeping up with oral hygiene. While brushing your teeth is important, cleaning your tongue can help in the removal of bacteria and other debris that can lead to bad breath and have an impact on your overall oral health. We will talk about the importance of cleaning your tongue, how to clean it, and the advantages of doing it on a regular basis.

Why is cleaning your tongue important?

Your tongue’s surface is covered in tiny bumps and grooves that can hold food particles, bacteria, and other debris. This can result in terrible breath, dental rot, and other oral medical issues. Cleaning your tongue can help in the removal of these harmful substances and maintain oral hygiene.

How to clean your tongue.

The process of cleaning your tongue is simple. Follow the step to clean your tongue property:

Choose a tongue cleaner: There are many different kinds of tongue cleaners on the market. A tongue scraper, a toothbrush with a tongue cleaner on the back, or a tongue brush.
Gargle: Rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any debris or food particles.
Position of the tongue cleaner: Place the tongue cleaner at the back of your tongue and gently pull it toward the tip of your tongue to position it.
Brush your tongue: Scrape or brush your tongue in a back-to-front motion applying light pressure. After each stroke, also rinse the tongue cleaner to remove any debris.
Gargle: Finally rinsing your mouth with water to clean it from any debris.

You should clean your tongue every day, preferably in the morning before brushing your teeth.

What are the benefits of regular tongue cleaning

Fresh breath: Keeping your tongue clean can help get rid of the bacteria that cause bad breath, leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh.
Improved oral health: By removing harmful bacteria and debris, regular tongue cleaning can help prevent dental decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Enhanced taste: Having a clean tongue can make your taste buds work better, making your food taste better.
Better digestion: digestive issues can be brought on by the bacteria on your tongue interfering with digestion. By removing harmful bacteria, cleaning your tongue can help improve digestion.
Benefits to the body as a whole: Poor oral hygiene has been linked to a number of health issues, including stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. If you clean your tongue regularly you can keep these diseases at bay.

Tips and trick for good oral health

Maintaining good oral health is a crucial aspect of overall health and well-being. The following are some helpful hints and techniques for preserving good oral health:

Brush your teeth twice a day

It is essential to maintain good oral health to brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Utilize a fluoride toothpaste and a delicate seethed toothbrush to clean your teeth and eliminate plaque.

Floss everyday

Flossing is a fundamental piece of keeping up with great oral wellbeing. It aids in the removal of plaque and food particles from the gum line and between your teeth.

Use mouthwash

Using mouthwash can aid in the elimination of bacteria and improve breath quality. To assist in the strengthening of your teeth, select a mouthwash that contains fluoride.

Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks

Sugary and acidic foods and drinks should be avoided because they can erode tooth enamel and cause dental decay. Drink plenty of water to help rinse your mouth and neutralize acid, and avoid these foods and beverages.

Chew sugar-free gum

Biting sugar-free gum after dinners can assist with invigorating spit creation, which can assist with killing corrosive and washing away food particles.

Visit your dental specialist regularly

Ordinary dental check-ups and cleanings are fundamental for keeping up with great oral wellbeing. Dental decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues can all be detected and treated by your dentist.

Try not to smoke or use tobacco items

Smoking and using tobacco items can expand your gamble of dental rot, gum illness, and oral disease. Stopping smoking and staying away from tobacco items can assist with working on your oral wellbeing and by and large wellbeing.

Protect your teeth

If you play sports or grind your teeth at night, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. To help strengthen your teeth and prevent dental decay, use a mouthwash with fluoride.

Maintain a healthy diet

Consuming a well-balanced diet that is full of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables can support healthy teeth and gums.

Manual Vs Electric toothbrush: Which one is the best?

There are two primary choices available to you when selecting a toothbrush: either an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush. Here are a few pros and cons of each to assist you with concluding which one might be best for you:

Manual Toothbrush:

Pros:

Reasonable – Manual toothbrushes are by and large more reasonable than electric brushes, making them open for a great many people.
Portable – Manual toothbrushes are portable and can be used anywhere without needing to be charged. They are easy to carry around.
Numerous choices – There are many different kinds of manual toothbrushes, including those with soft, medium, and hard bristles, various shapes and sizes, and various bristle patterns.

Cons:

More effort is required – Brushing with a manual toothbrush requires more effort and skill to ensure a thorough clean.
May not be as effective – If you have braces or other dental appliances, manual toothbrushes may not be as effective at removing plaque and other debris from your teeth and gums.
Shorter lifespan – Compared to electric toothbrushes, manual toothbrushes typically require replacement more frequently, every three to four months.

Electric Toothbrush:

Pros:

More effective – Electric toothbrushes generally remove plaque and other debris from the gums and teeth of people who have braces or other dental appliances better than manual toothbrushes.
Easy to use – Compared to manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes require less effort and technique, making them easier for people with arthritis or limited dexterity to use.
Clocks – Numerous rotating brushes have built-in clocks to guarantee that you brush for the suggested two minutes.

Cons:

Expensive – Some electric toothbrush models cost hundreds of dollars, making them more expensive than manual toothbrushes.
Requires charging: Electric toothbrushes must be charged on a regular basis, which can be a hassle if you forget to do so or are traveling.
Bulky – Compared to manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes take up a lot of space, are heavier and may not be as portable.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both electric and manual toothbrushes. The best toothbrush for you will ultimately depend on your preferences, dental health requirements, and financial situation.

Floss Vs Waterpik Vs Interdental brushes: Which one is the best?

Floss, waterpiks, and interdental brushes are a few of your options for removing food particles and plaque from between your teeth and along the gum line. Here are a few upsides and downsides of each to assist you with concluding which one might be best for you:

Floss:

Pros:

Affordable – Flossing is an affordable and widely available method for removing plaque and food particles from between your teeth.
Compact – Floss is not difficult to carry around and can be utilized anyplace.
Effective – Floss is powerful at eliminating plaque and garbage from between your teeth and along the gum line.

Cons:

Technique is required – To ensure a thorough clean, flossing requires proper technique, which can take time to master.
Can result in bleeding – Flossing can result in bleeding if your gums are sensitive or you floss less frequently.
Difficult for some – Flossing might be hard for people who have braces or limited dexterity.

Waterpik:

Pros:

Easy to use – Waterpiks are simple to use and require less skill to use than floss.
Effective – Waterpiks are effective at eliminating food particles and plaque from between your teeth and along the gum line.
Massaging – Waterpiks can stimulate and massage your gums, which can help improve their health.

Cons:

Expensive – Waterpiks can be more expensive than interdental brushes or floss.
Massive – Waterpiks are bulkier than floss or interdental brushes and may not be as compact.
Maintenance – Waterpiks require regular cleaning and maintenance to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Interdental Brushes:

Pros:

Simple to use – Compared to flossing, interdental brushes are simpler to use.
Effective: Interdental brushes are able to remove plaque and food particles from the gum line and between your teeth.
Can be utilized with supports – Interdental brushes can be utilized with supports or other dental machines.

Cons:

Fitting – It’s possible that interdental brushes won’t fit between all of your teeth. This is especially true if your teeth are in tight spaces.
May cause bleeding – If your gums are sensitive or you haven’t used interdental brushes often, they may cause bleeding.
Wear out – Interdental brushes can quickly wear out and need to be replaced frequently because of this.

We hope that you found our ultimate guide to maintaining good oral hygiene helpful. As you now know, maintaining healthy teeth and gums and overall oral health requires a good oral hygiene routine. Follow the steps in this blog post to get a healthy smile that makes you feel good about yourself. Remember to brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis, visit the dentist for check-ups on a regular basis, and consume a nutritious diet that is beneficial to your teeth and gums. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the people at The Neem Tree Dental Practice. We thank you for taking the time to read, and we hope your dental health continues to improve!