Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

4 Top Tooth-Brushing Tips

Herman Kim

Along with regular flossing and a healthy diet, brushing your teeth every day is one of the best ways to keep them healthy. However, many people cheat themselves out of the benefits of brushing by using the wrong tools or technique. The following tips can help you to get the most out of your daily brush.

1. Get into a Regular Brushing Habit

Dentists recommend that everyone brushes their teeth at least two times a day. The timing of the brushing doesn't really matter, although most people find it most convenient to brush when they get up in the morning and again before they go to bed. If you want to brush again after lunch to freshen up your mouth, that's fine. However, be aware that brushing your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, or soda can lead to increased wear on your enamel. If you like to consume these foods, it is best to wait a while after indulging before you brush.

2. Perfect Your Brushing Technique

If you are using a manual toothbrush, the best brushing technique is to hold the brush at an angle to your gums and move the head in small circles to remove plaque from your teeth. Electric toothbrushes perform the circular movement for you, so you just need to hold the brush head against each tooth in turn. Don't forget to brush both the fronts and backs of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces of the molars. Finally, avoid pressing too hard, as excess pressure can damage tooth enamel.

3. Use a Good Toothpaste

The best toothpastes for protecting your teeth contain fluoride and are free from abrasive materials. Most mainstream toothpastes are suitable, but some alternative or natural brands do not contain the fluoride that your teeth need to stay healthy. If you are not sure if a toothpaste is suitable for daily brushing, look for an Australian Dental Association logo, which indicates that the toothpaste is dentist-approved.

4. Time Your Brushing

Dentists recommend brushing for at least two minutes to thoroughly clean your teeth. If you do not use a timer, it is likely that you overestimate the amount of time you spend brushing. Most modern electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer to let you know how long to brush. If you use a manual brush, use a timer on your phone or watch to make sure you brush for long enough.

Contact a dentist for more information. 


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About Me
Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

I am a senior who recently began wearing dentures, and before I got them, I spent a lot of time researching types of dentures and alternatives. Now, that I have my dentures and my research is complete, I need something new to fill my time. So, I decided to create a blog. "Why not put what I learned to use?" I thought. In this blog, I hope to share facts and figures about dentures and offer a little friendly advice along the way. Learn how many other Australians wear dentures, explore alternatives to dentures and figure out which options are best for you. Thanks for reading!

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