Brushing your teeth regularly is probably a given for most of us. After all, we were taught from an early age how important this is for hygiene and dental health. However, it is not that easy to really brush your teeth properly: many adults also make avoidable mistakes with the technique.
Brush your teeth properly – circular movements are not ideal
Children are often taught to brush their teeth in a circular motion using the so-called rotation method. 57% of adults still do this, according to a study by the University of Witten/Herdecke in 2012. However, this method is not the best choice when it comes to dental health. It is well suited for children because it is easy to learn and requires less motor skills. However, it can lead to inflammation in the mouth because the circular movements of the brush push bacteria under the edge of the gums, warns Professor Stefan Zimmer, chief physician and holder of the chair for tooth preservation and preventive dentistry at the University of Witten/Herdecke. He therefore recommends starting in your teens at the latestthe so-called sweeping techniqueto switch. With this, the toothbrush is placed at a slight angle at the transition between the teeth and gums and the plaque is then “swept away” from the gums towards the teeth using wiping movements.
How long do you brush your teeth for? – Perfect cleaning can also take longer than 3 minutes
Brushing your teeth for three minutes is ideal - that's how we learned it as children, often with the help of egg timers, short-term timers or appropriately timed songs. However, this rule of thumb does not necessarily have to be correct. Depending on the position of your teeth, which varies greatly from person to person, it can take a different amount of time to thoroughly brush away all plaque. Zimmer suspects that most people tend to need a little longer to really thoroughly clean their teeth, namely around five minutes. Older people tend to take longer than younger people because gums often recede over the years, making brushing more difficult.
Dental floss or interdental brushes help
In order to effectively remove plaque from between teeth, Zimmer recommends regular use of dental floss. For larger gaps, so-called interdental brushes are recommended as an alternative.
The right toothbrush
There’s also the matter of buying the right toothbrushsome points to note. The bristles should be rounded to avoid damaging the gums. Plastic is better here than natural materials - the latter may seem particularly health-conscious, but they offer a good breeding ground for bacteria and are therefore not recommended. Every two to three monthsthe toothbrush should be replaced– if it is already visibly worn, it may be a little earlier. Toothbrushes that are too old or damaged make effective brushing unnecessarily difficult. For most people, toothbrushes with soft or medium-hard bristles are recommended. Special shapes, for example with a movable head, can be pleasant, but are not necessary from a dental perspective.
Electric toothbrushes can achieve just as good results as traditional versions. They are alsoeasier and more convenientin use and can compensate for the mentioned errors in the plastering technique. However, they are mostly more expensive than conventional toothbrushes and less practical for on the go. Even with electric toothbrushes, the attachments should be replaced regularly before they become unhygienic or the cleaning performance deteriorates too much.
The right toothpaste
From a dental perspective, you can't go wrong when buying the right toothpaste. Only the addition of fluoride is recommended, as this also protects the teeth from tooth decay. Of toothpastes that...whiten teethare not recommended, as they sometimes contain aggressively abrasive particles that can permanently attack tooth enamel. Apart from these points, the toothpaste can be confidently purchased based on taste or price.
Simple steps for healthy teeth
If you follow these simple steps, some of which require a little practice, you have a good chance of having healthy teeth. “If you brush your teeth for around five minutes twice a day and floss for around two minutes, you only get 12 minutes of dental care a day and save yourself a lot of dental treatment,” advises Professor Zimmer.
