Brush your teeth twice a day
Brushing your teeth is the foundation of good oral hygiene. It is meticulous work and certainly not easy. Therefore, brush your teeth carefully and not too vigorously twice a day. A good brushing takes two minutes. So take your time!
Also between your teeth
You can’t always clean the spaces between your teeth well with a toothbrush alone. It does not matter whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. No toothbrush will help you. Use a toothpick if it fits snugly in the space between your teeth. Is the space too small for that? Then choose floss. Do you have a lot of space between your teeth? Then use a brush. Ask one of our dental hygienists in Amsterdam-Noord or in Zaandam which aid suits you best and how you should use it.
Choose a good toothbrush
Choose a soft brush with a small brush head. Replace the toothbrush every three months or sooner if the hair tufts start to separate. You can also brush your teeth effectively with an electric toothbrush. This makes the correct brushing movement. This allows you to concentrate better on placing the brush head in your mouth. The same applies here: a new brush head removes more plaque than a brush that needs to be replaced.
Use fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride makes tooth enamel stronger and less soluble in acid. So use a toothpaste with fluoride. Stand in front of the mirror, so you can keep a better view of the brushing.
Eat or drink up to seven times a day
In addition to sugars, soft drinks, fruit juice, yoghurt drinks and wine also contain acids. You hardly taste the acid. The sugar dominates the sour taste. Acids attack your tooth enamel. This wears out your teeth. This form of wear is called dental erosion. Dental erosion is an insidious process that cannot be easily repaired. It’s not just about how many acidic products you eat or drink. The more often you do this and the longer you keep acidic products in your mouth, the greater the chance of dental erosion. The way you eat or drink also has an influence. So opt for three main meals a day and have something in between up to four times a day. This gives your teeth sufficient chance to recover.
Take acidic fruit up to twice a day and drink soda and other acidic drinks in moderation. Water without carbonation, coffee and regular tea without sugar are not harmful to your teeth.
Do not use acidic products an hour before brushing your teeth
The acid attacks the tooth enamel. The brush and toothpaste have an abrasive effect. If you brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acid, you can easily brush away the tooth enamel. Then your teeth will wear even faster.
Sugar-free chewing gum protects your teeth
Did you know that saliva protects your teeth against dental erosion? Saliva neutralizes the acids from food and drinks. When you chew gum, you activate saliva production. Choose a sugar-free chewing gum, for example one with the natural sweetener xylitol. Xylifresh chewing gum with 100% xylitol is recommended by the Ivory Cross.
Visit your dentist regularly
For a healthy mouth, it is advisable to visit the dentist at least twice a year for a check-up. Then your teeth will be checked thoroughly and you will receive guidance to keep your mouth healthy. Make an appointment for a treatment by one of the specialists in our dental clinic in Amsterdam-Noord or our dental clinic in Zaandam.
