6 tips on brushing your teeth correctly to protect your health

1. Appearance standards of high-quality toothbrushes

The overall appearance of a high-quality toothbrush: the brush head is short and narrow, the brush handle is flat and straight, and the brush surface is flat and even. Don't use a flat-headed toothbrush no matter how cheap it is. Some flat toothbrushes on the market, that is, those with large and wide brush heads, full and dense bristles, and very small spacing between bristle bundles, are generally cheaper. Using this method of brushing teeth is bound to cause certain damage to the teeth and gums, such as wedge-shaped defects in the teeth, gum atrophy, exposed tooth roots, widened interdental spaces, etc.

In addition, because the head of a flat toothbrush is too large to reach the back teeth, over time, food residues remaining in the back of the mouth will ferment and decay under the action of bacteria, and then damage the teeth. Since tooth damage is a slow process and the damage is not immediately visible, some people think that using a large-headed toothbrush is easier and saves time, but they are unaware of the damage it will cause over time.

2. Criteria for a good toothpaste

First, the consistency should be appropriate, and it should be squeezed out of the hose into strips that can cover the teeth without splashing. Second, the friction force should be moderate, which should have a good teeth cleaning effect but not damage the tooth enamel. Third, the paste is stable. It does not leak water or become hard during the storage period, and the acidity and alkalinity are stable. Fourth, medicated toothpaste should maintain its efficacy within its validity period. Fifth, the paste should be smooth, beautiful and free of bubbles. Sixth, there should be appropriate foam during brushing so that food debris can be suspended and easily eliminated. Seventh, the aroma and taste should be appropriate.

3. Requirements for toothbrush bristles

The surface is smooth and the thickness is moderate. If it is too thin, it will be easily deformed, and if it is too thick, it will easily damage teeth and gums, and it has poor elasticity. The grinding surface of the head is smooth.

4. You must master the correct method of brushing your teeth

We should not only develop good habits of brushing our teeth, but also pay attention to the method of brushing our teeth. If the brushing method is incorrect, it can also cause harm. The most common damage is tooth surface loss and gum recession. Whether people can master the method of brushing teeth well depends largely on the dexterity of their hands. Although everyone has different skills in brushing teeth, as long as they are given sufficient guidance, most people can use a toothbrush to clean their mouth effectively.

Children are slower in movement and lack patience, and cannot cope with complex brushing techniques. They should be taught to use simpler brushing methods. For people with disabilities, they may need a toothbrush with a modified handle design for easier grip, or an electric toothbrush.

5. How to test the effectiveness of brushing teeth

From a preventive perspective, plaque removal is the focus of oral hygiene. Because dental plaque is one of the common factors of caries and periodontal diseases, if dental plaque is removed, the problem of preventing caries and periodontal diseases will be solved; at the same time, it also makes dental tartar lose the basis for its formation. The standard for checking the effectiveness of brushing teeth is to see whether the dental plaque has been completely removed.

6. Scrape your tongue when brushing your teeth to prevent gastritis

According to domestic and foreign statistics, the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in the population is approximately 50%. This microorganism is a causative factor of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, and has a tendency to be transmitted from one family to another. People with chronic gastritis should pay more attention to oral hygiene. Scraping off the tongue coating when brushing teeth every morning is good for both people and themselves.