How often?

 

"The best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque¹, limit the frequency, and amount of sugary food and drinks consumed in your diet, and see the dentist regularly.

 

Don'ts

 

1. Brush for long enough - research indicates that people only brush for 45 seconds

 

2. Rinse² the mouth after brushing - fluoride helps to prevent, control and even stop tooth decay - but rinsing³ the mouth out dilutes⁴ the concentration of fluoride, so SPIT, don't rinse.

 

3. Brush too soon after eating - as enamel⁵ on teeth is softened⁶ after eating especially with sugary foods - it's best to wait an hour before brushing which allows the tooth to harden up more.

 

4. Use a hard bristle⁷ toothbrush as this can damage the soft tissues in the gums.

 

5. Don't brush too hard - the bristles⁸ should lightly sweep the tooth.

 

Dos

 

1. Brush for at least two minutes, twice daily, with a fluoridated toothpaste

 

2. Brush last thing at night and at least on one other occasion

 

3. Use a small headed toothbrush with medium bristles.

 

4. Put a pea-sized blob of fluoride toothpaste on your toothbrush.

 

5. Brush along the gum line as well as the teeth themselves

 

6. Brush all surfaces of the teeth, including the outer, inner and chewing surfaces as well as the hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restorations.

 

If you have spaces between teeth, it is best to clean these with an interdental or single-tufted brush. Where the spaces between teeth are too tight to fit such a brush, use dental floss or tape.

 

7. If you are unsure about the effectiveness of brushing, use disclosing tablets after brushing to highlight any areas you may have missed.

 

There is good evidence that a small-headed counter oscillating electric toothbrush helps in removing dental plaque but they must be used correctly and your dentist or hygienist will advise.

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