3 weeks ago
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Maintaining good oral hygiene begins with brushing and flossing your teeth regularly — and doing it well.
A non-negotiable daily task, brushing and flossing your teeth effectively removes plaque, the sticky, whitish substances that constantly form between the teeth and on the gum line. Moreover, regular brushing and flossing of the teeth prevent halitosis or bad breath.
A 2024 report by the Philippine Dental Association revealed that seven out of 10 Filipinos (72% of the population) have dental caries or tooth decay caused by the negligence of dental hygiene, including improper brushing and flossing of the teeth.
What is the proper way to brush your teeth?
In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Ana Beatriz Robles, DMD of Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center shared the rule of thumb about brushing teeth: It should span two minutes or an entire song duration.
"The goal is to cover all the teeth's surfaces: The sides facing your cheek, the top sides, the sides facing your tongue, which is the most neglected side of your teeth, and, of course, the side that other people can see, the frontal area," Robles said, adding to put only light pressure when brushing the teeth.
Brushing vertically vs. horizontally
As for the brushing motion, the dentist said the stroke should be vertical or through a circular movement, as the teeth are cut vertically.
Brushing your teeth otherwise or horizontally would cause irritations and the gums to recede upwards.
"When the gums recede upwards or away from the teeth, away from the biting surface, it reveals the area of the tooth most vulnerable to wear and tear, to abrasion," she explained.
"So, that's why when we brush, ideally, you're going to be brushing in the same direction as the division of the teeth because the whole brushing is meant to sweep away debris from all the teeth's surface," she added.
In a 2021 interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Diane Isabel Selvido suggested the modified bass method of brushing, which will have you place the bristles of your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle from your gum line. And with short back and forth movement, you apply gentle vibratory pressure and dislodge the tip of the bristles.
Are electric toothbrushes effective?
In case you're unsure whether or not you're correctly stroking your teeth the right way when brushing, Robles said an electric toothbrush is invented "so that you don't have to think about strokes anymore."
"All you have to do is just give it some time, hover over each tooth, and it's gonna take care of all the motion for you," she said.
Brushing the teeth twice or thrice daily using fluoride toothpaste is advisable.
Why do we need to floss?
Robles said there's been an ongoing debate on what should come first between brushing and flossing the teeth. Ultimately, the dentist said it doesn't really matter as long as "you do both and you do both well."
Flossing, which should be done once daily, is another essential part of oral hygiene, as it removes plaques and food particles between each tooth and below the gumline that are not reachable by a toothbrush.
The food particles stuck between teeth could cause bacteria to grow, leading to gingivitis, bad breath, and other gum diseases.
Robles said there are many ways to floss the teeth, including traditional dental floss or a water flosser, "which is convenient for brace wearers or those with bridges."
However, the dentist said she would recommend water flossers for those starting from a clean slate.
"Soft tartar, or plaque that has been sitting on your teeth for a few hours, can easily be chipped away by dental floss, but once it hardens, it can no longer be sprayed away by a water flosser," she said.
"Water flosser is effective in removing soft plaque, but you cannot expect it to remove the hardened tartar," she added.
For bad cases of hardened tartar, Robles reassured that only dentists can effectively remove it. So, it's crucial to schedule regular checkups and undergo professional teeth cleaning or oral prophylaxis twice a year to maintain optimal oral health.
— LA, GMA Integrated News
