A professional cleaning every six months removes what you cannot remove at home. But on 180 of 182 days you look after your teeth yourself, and that decides whether the next visit finds a cavity. This is what our hygienists tell every patient after a professional cleaning.
How often and how long to brush
Twice a day, two minutes. Morning before or after breakfast are both fine, but the evening brush matters most: saliva flow drops at night and bacteria get eight undisturbed hours. After the evening brush, nothing but water.
If you have had something acidic (citrus, fizzy drinks, wine), wait 30 minutes before brushing. Acid softens enamel for a while and a brush abrades it.
Which toothbrush to choose
Soft or medium-soft. Hard brushes are not better: they do not remove more plaque, but they wear away gum and enamel at the neck of the tooth. That is how abfraction lesions and exposed roots develop, which later need fillings.
- Soft – most adults, and everyone with bleeding gums or sensitive teeth.
- Medium – healthy gums, if your hygienist recommends it.
- Hard – not for teeth; fine for cleaning dentures.
A small head reaches the back teeth. Replace the brush every 3 months or when the bristles splay, and after every cold.
Electric or manual?
Both clean well when used properly. An electric brush with a small round oscillating head helps if you struggle with technique or with the full two minutes: it times you and does the motion, you only move it from tooth to tooth. Do not press; a good electric brush warns you when you do. For inflamed gums or exposed roots your hygienist may suggest an extra-soft head.
The right technique
- Hold the brush at 45 degrees to the gum line so the bristles reach where tooth meets gum.
- Short, gentle, vibrating strokes over 2–3 teeth, then a sweep from gum to tooth edge. No horizontal "sawing".
- Order: outer surfaces, inner surfaces, chewing surfaces, on each jaw. Brush the inside of the front teeth with the brush held vertically.
- Finish by brushing your tongue; most odour-causing bacteria live there.
Floss and interdental brushes
A brush cannot reach between teeth, and that is where most adult cavities start. Once a day, in the evening:
- Floss if your teeth touch tightly. Wrap it around the tooth in a "C" and slide from gum to edge, both sides of every tooth.
- Interdental brushes if there are gaps, bridges, implants or braces. Your hygienist picks the size: too small does not clean, too big hurts the gum.
- Water flosser – a good extra with braces and implants, but not a replacement for floss.
If your gums bleed the first few days you floss, that is a sign of inflammation, not a reason to stop. Bleeding usually settles within a week. If not, book a hygiene visit.
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Adults: fluoride toothpaste at 1350–1500 ppm (on the pack); children under 6: 1000 ppm, a pea-sized amount. Whitening pastes with abrasive particles no more than a couple of times a week. Mouthwash is optional; if you use one, choose alcohol-free and not straight after brushing, so you do not rinse away the fluoride.
When home care is no longer enough
Tartar that has already formed will not come off with a brush. If you notice hard yellowish or dark deposits near the gums, if your breath stays unpleasant after brushing, or your gums bleed for more than a week, it is time for a professional cleaning. It costs 80–85 EUR and takes about an hour; book on +371 22428688.
