Montreux Dental Clinic

It’s no secret that the general recommendation is to brush at least twice a day. Still, many of us continue to neglect brushing our teeth at night. But brushing before bed gets rid of the germs and plaque that accumulate throughout the day.

Achieving healthy teeth takes a lifetime of care. Even if you’ve been told that you have nice teeth, it’s crucial to take the right steps every day to take care of them and prevent problems. This involves getting the right oral care products, as well as being mindful of your daily habits.

If you don’t remove plaque regularly by brushing and flossing, it can cause tooth decay. Without removal, plaque hardens and develops into tartar. So, brush and floss at least twice daily and see your dentist for regular cleanings.

Enamel is partly responsible for your teeth’s white appearance, and when it decays, your teeth may start to appear yellow. Decaying enamel could also be to blame for any pain you feel.

Working from your front teeth to the back of your mouth, you have eight incisors (your front teeth), four canine teeth, eight premolars, and 12 molars.

The way you brush is equally important — in fact, doing a poor job of brushing your teeth is almost as bad as not brushing at all. Take your time, moving the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions to remove plaque. Unremoved plaque can harden, leading to calculus buildup and gingivitis (early gum disease).

About a third of each tooth is underneath your gums. This is why keeping your gums healthy is as important as making sure your teeth are well cared for. Your gums should always be pink in color, and firm.

If you’re doing twice-a-day brushing and flossing, you may feel that’s good enough. But rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash, like Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash, afterwards will kill more oral bacteria, helping to fight plaque.

Wash Your Toothbrush Holder. It doesn’t just hold your brush—it also holds onto many of the germs that occupy your bathroom.

Eat Teeth-whitening Foods. Raw, coarse, fibrous foods—such as celery, cucumbers, apples, pears, carrots and lettuce—help scrub tooth surfaces and remove some of the plaque that’s accumulated

Don’t Brush Too Often. Brushing too often can damage your gums and the enamel on your teeth, and because of that, twice a day is enough.

Snap a Video Selfie. It may feel silly, but filming your toothbrushing sessions could help improve your technique

Sugar-free gum can help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth, and it stimulates salivary flow, which bathes the teeth with calcium and phosphate ions that help replenish tooth enamel.

Start by Brushing in the Back. This good habit may mean that you do a better job cleaning those hard-to-reach spots—which is essential because all of those nooks and crannies in your molars make them more susceptible to gum disease and cavities.

Switch to a soft-bristled brush. You likely already know you should change your toothbrush every two to three months (or sooner if the bristles are frayed), but if you’re using a hard brush, consider replacing it now.

Wait before you brush! In the habit of starting your morning off with a glass of orange juice? You’re going to want to hold off on brushing for a while afterwards. Foods and drinks with a low pH—that is, acidic foods—temporarily soften the enamel of the teeth.

You are supposed to brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. The timing is very important as a study found that you remove 46% more plaque than by brushing for 45 seconds (most people’s average brush time). So pull your timer out and get brushing!

You should replace your toothbrush every 1-4 months. It loses its effectiveness over time as the bristles start to fray and bacteria builds up over time. It can be an inconvenience but your teeth will thank you for it!

Feeling any sort of pain or discomfort in or around your mouth? It is not often easy to tell when something is wrong; you may not even feel anything initially. This could likely be an issue with your teeth, so book your appointment today and we will take care of you!

Did you know that your teeth have a bite force of 200lbs? The reason you may not initially think so is that your brain actually holds you back from applying full force depending on the situation. You are a lot stronger than you think!