Oral hygiene tips

Mouthwashes are of two types: 

1. Cosmetic mouthwash

Cosmetic mouthwashes have no medical benefit. They just temporarily control bad breath and leave behind a pleasant taste. They are easily available in the market for regular use.

2. Therapeutic mouthwash

Therapeutic mouthwash has active ingredients which help control or treat conditions like bad breath, gingivitis (inflammation of gums), plaque accumulation and cavities.

Chlorhexidine digluconate (0.2%) is the most widely recommended mouthwash for therapeutic purposes.

These mouthwashes can be prescribed by your dentist to maintain proper oral hygiene. They are also prescribed for orthodontic treatments (braces) and after dental surgeries like flap surgery (surgery of diseased gums). 

Dental floss can be used in two different ways: the spool method and the loop method.

1. Spool method

• Take a piece of floss approximately 12 inches long. 
• Lightly wind 2-3 rounds of floss around the middle finger of one hand and wind the rest of the floss similarly around the same finger of the opposite hand. 
• Clench the last three fingers of both the hands and move the hands apart, pulling the floss tightly.
• Secure the floss with your index finger and thumb of each hand. 
• Pass the floss between two teeth at a time to clean the interdental area.

2. Loop method

• Take out an 18 inches long piece of floss and make it into a circle by securely tying it with three knots. 
• Place all the fingers in the loop except the thumbs. 
• Hold the floss with the help of fingers and thumb with a gap of one inch between both hands. 
• Pass the floss between two teeth at a time to clean the interdental area.

There are different types of floss available in the market. 

• Depending upon the coating of the thread: Waxed or unwaxed
• Depending upon the width of the thread: Thin or thick
• Depending upon the design of the thread: Twisted or untwisted

These are the benefits of flossing:

• Flossing removes plaque and debris stuck between the teeth in the embrasure area, dental fillings and braces.
• It not only removes the interdental plaque but also massages the gums over the embrasure space.  
• Regular cleaning of spaces between the teeth (interdental space) reduces gingival bleeding.
• Regular flossing removes the food stuck between your teeth, thus reduces the chances of getting cavities between two teeth and also prevents bad breath.

It is a modified and better version of the Bass technique as it ensures better cleaning between the teeth.

• Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45° to the gum line, on the outer surface of your teeth and move in to and fro motion, followed by a circular motion.
• After every 10-15 strokes roll the brush towards the top surface of the molars and premolars and brush them using short back-and-forth strokes.
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the top bristles of the brush are placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a repeated swipe-out motion.

It is also called the physiologic way of brushing used by people with the severely recessed gum line. It is not widely used by people and is not recommended for everyone. 

• Place the brush on the outer surface, towards the edge of the teeth and start brushing upwards, towards the gum line.
• Repeat the same motion 5-6 times
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the heel of the brush is placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a swipe out motion.

It is one of the best techniques that can be used by both adults and children with healthy gums.

• Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45° onto the outer surface of your upper teeth and swipe it down.                                          
• Now place the brush similarly onto the outer surface of your lower teeth and swipe it up.
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the heel of the brush is placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a swipe out motion.

It is probably the most commonly used toothbrushing method. 

• Touch your upper teeth with the lower teeth and put the brush on the outer surface of the teeth.
• Now brush your teeth using a to-and-fro motion (horizontally) and then up-down motion (vertically) followed by circular strokes.
• Repeat the to-and-fro and up-down motions for the inner surface of the teeth.

An ultra-soft bristled toothbrush is recommended for this method. It is mostly recommended for people with braces or with a receded gum line.

• Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45° onto the top gum line.
• Now swipe it down to the edge of the lower teeth and repeat the motion 5-6 times.
• Follow the same process for the upper teeth. 

It is one of the more convenient methods for children to clean their teeth. It is also known as the vertical method.

• Touch your upper teeth with the lower teeth and put the brush on the outer surface of the teeth.
• Now brush your teeth in a vertical motion (up-down strokes).
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the top bristles are placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a swipe out motion.

It is most commonly used to make children brush their teeth. It is also called the circular technique.

• The child is asked to clench the teeth softly and put the brush on the outer surface of the teeth.
• Ask the child to make small circles with the bristles of the brush on the surface of the teeth.
• Repeat this motion 10 times and then ask them to put the brush on the top surface of the molars and brush back and forth.

It not only cleans the teeth but also massages the gums. This technique can be used for people with a receded gum line.

• Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45° onto the outer surface of your teeth, with the bristles placed partly on the gums and partly on the teeth.
• Brush your teeth by using a left-right motion.
• After about 15 strokes, move your brush to the top surface of the molars and premolars and brush them using short back-and-forth strokes.
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the top bristles of the brush are placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a swipe out motion.

It is the most effective way of brushing the teeth as it thoroughly cleans the entire surface of the teeth.

• Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45° to the gum line, on the outer surface of your teeth and move in a circular motion.
• Repeat the strokes 20 times, about 3 teeth at a time.
• On the inner surface of the teeth, the top bristles of the brush are placed just below the gum line. The brushing is then done in a repeated swipe-out motion.
• For cleaning the top surface of the molars and premolars, bristles are pressed firmly into the pits and fissures and then short back and forth strokes are given. 

Single tuft brushes are used in the areas where there is no gum on the embrasure area. The chances of food lodgement are high in such a situation. It looks like a normal brush but with bristles on only the top part of the brush.

Interproximal or interdental brushes have conical or tapered heads. As the name suggests, they are designed to clean the areas like spaces between the teeth which cannot be cleaned by a regular brush. They have a flexible handle that can be easily angled to facilitate better cleaning of the embrasure area. Embrasure is triangular space between your teeth, near the gums.

They are available in various widths as different brushes are used for different concerns. For instance, a person with normal embrasure area will use a smaller width interdental toothbrush whereas a person with space between his/her teeth will use a larger width toothbrush.

These brushes were introduced for those with a physical or learning disability, aged people and terminally-ill patients but can be used by anyone. It works on the principle of rotating, oscillating and pulsating. These brushes have a small round head with stationary bristles attached to it. The head moves in a 60-degree counter-rotational motion which provides approximately 7600 strokes per minute. An electric toothbrush cleans your teeth just as well as a manual toothbrush.

These are the regular toothbrushes that we use on a daily basis. These brushes come in four different forms depending on the thickness of the bristles:

• Ultra-soft: 0.10 mm
• Soft: 0.15–0.18 mm 
• Medium: 0.18–0.23 mm 
• Hard/Extra hard: 0.23–0.28 mm