Do you brush? Brush, wash then floss? Brush, floss then wash? Bad news, you’ve been doing it all wrong – but you’re not alone. Research* shows that one in four adults don’t brush twice a day, only 31% of adults use mouthwash and just 21% of adults use dental floss regularly.
Dentist Matthew Lloyd reveals that following the Floss-Wash-Brush regime twice a day is key to achieve and maintain a healthy, white smile.
As a general rule, the regime is simply down to the fact it is better to remove plaque and food debris with floss before rinsing the bacteria away with an alcohol free mouth wash.
“Ideally, you should finish your oral care routine by brushing your teeth. That way, the toothpaste stays in contact with your teeth and gums for longer and will therefore provide better protection.” He explained.
TOP 10 TEETH TIPS:
Brush before breakfast – This is the ideal time as tooth decay is caused by the bacteria in our mouths using the food we eat to produce acid causing our teeth to decay.
Go alcohol free – Alcohol is the main ingredient in a lot of products on the market because of its high ability to kill bad bacteria but it also kills good bacteria in the mouth.
Manual brush method – Angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gum line. The average brush head will cover two teeth, clean around in a circular motion for around 5 seconds and then move forward one tooth at a time repeating the same circular cleaning action for five seconds. (Don’t forget to brush your tongue!)
Two minutes, twice a day- Use the timer on your phone to ensure you are spending at least 2 minutes brushing your teeth (twice a day)
Sensitive gums? If you have sensitive gums it is recommend to use a rotating toothbrush.
Avoid eating for an hour before bed – This is so the saliva in your mouth has a chance to clear away food debris and neutralise acid.
A pea sized amount – is all the toothpaste you should use when brushing your teeth.
Don’t wet tooth bristles straight away- Avoid wetting the bristles on your brush straight away to improve plaque removal.
Bleeding gums – If you have just started flossing your gums may be sore and might bleed but if you get into the routine of flossing then after a week or so the bleeding should stop. If you find your gums still bleed, see a dentist.
Remember the 4:2 rule – If you brush twice a day for 2 minutes each time, then your teeth are protected so you can eat four times throughout the day, so breakfast, lunch, tea and one snack. If you eat or drink more than 4 times in a day, then it is important that you brush your three times a day.
