Brushing and Flossing; Rocket Science it Ain`t, says a South East London dentist

Brushing and Flossing; Rocket Science it Ain`t, says a South East London dentist

05 / 04 / 2010

Brushing and Flossing is probably the most important part of our dental hygiene regime, says a dentist from South East London. However, it has to be done properly in order to have the fullest effect and to keep gum disease away. The method of brushing is as important as the brush itself, there tends to be a fallacy about the fact that if you use an electric brush you don’t need to brush for too long, fallacies in dental care can cost you your teeth. A hand brush is the best method in a lot of cases as it allows you to feel the way around the teeth, and to get into all those awkward places that electric brushes often miss. That said, electric brushes are just as useful and effective as the old method, many of them have a timer and that is a handy tool in itself. A good mouthwash can dislodge recently consumed food particles, and that followed by a good flossing session will usually dislodge almost all the bits of food hiding in between the teeth. When we brush it should be the last part of the operation, a clean and healthy mouth will ensure that the teeth last a long time, and keep gum disease at bay. Carrying around a few floss sticks for cleaning in between the teeth after a sandwich or a light meal will also help in the fight against tartar, this is the hardened bacteria that accumulates around the base of the teeth where the gums meet the tooth. Tartar is usually removed at our 6 monthly visits to the dentist, but don’t let that make you lax in your regime, brushing and flossing should be kept to a high standard and never relaxed.