Tips for Good Oral Hygiene

For thousands of years, attention has been paid to oral care. Particularly the Egyptians and the Chinese were early adopters, but the Romans and Greeks also paid attention to oral hygiene. Oral care began with the use of (wet) twigs and pieces of bone that were used as a type of toothpick. Additionally, salt was used to clean the teeth, as well as herbs and leaves due to their medicinal properties. Later, tooth powder was introduced, made from ground eggshells, bones, charcoal, earth, porcelain, and/or herbs. The first toothpastes consisted of soap and glycerine and were only brought to market in the mid-19th century. Good oral hygiene today involves more than just brushing your teeth twice a day. It is also important to floss daily and scrape your tongue.

Brushing Your Teeth

Brush your teeth at least twice a day but no more than three times a day, as doing so more frequently can damage your tooth enamel. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating. Acids in food soften your enamel, making it more susceptible to damage when brushed.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day but no more than three times a day, as doing so more frequently can damage your tooth enamel.

For optimal oral care, brushing with an electric toothbrush is best. The advantage of electric brushing is that the head makes rapid rotating movements, providing better cleaning than a regular toothbrush. The head of an electric toothbrush is much smaller, making it easier to reach all areas. An electric toothbrush also requires less pressure during brushing, which benefits your gums. Excessive pressure on your gums can cause gum recession, exposing the tooth roots, which can lead to sensitive teeth.

Flossing

Unfortunately, a toothbrush alone does not reach all areas. Considering that 40% of our tooth surface is located between the teeth, it becomes clear how important it is to add flossing to your oral care routine in addition to brushing. You can floss directly after eating and after brushing your teeth. The advantage of flossing after brushing is that it removes toothpaste remnants between your teeth, allowing it to work where it is needed. Flossing also includes using a toothpick. While dental floss slides between the teeth to remove food particles, toothpicks also remove plaque. Nowadays, there are also 'water flossers' available. A type of mini pressure washer for your teeth. The device sprays a jet of water between the teeth to remove debris.

Tongue Scraping

Last but not least: scrape your tongue! Bad breath is partly caused by the coating on your tongue (also known as tongue coating) where bacteria accumulate and cause an unpleasant odour. A healthy tongue is pink with little white coating, and to maintain this, scrape your tongue in the morning after waking up. An additional benefit is that it removes waste products that have accumulated overnight, preventing them from re-entering your body. In the evening after brushing, scrape your tongue as well. Tongue coating that has built up during the day, partly due to food residues (especially dairy leaves a layer on your tongue), is removed in this way before going to bed. This, like brushing and flossing, contributes to better oral hygiene. Use a tongue scraper or a tongue brush to scrape your tongue. First, brush the tongue coating loose, then scrape away the excess debris with the back.

Toothpaste

There are many different types of toothpaste available on the market. Which one you choose for your oral hygiene routine depends entirely on your personal preference and taste. Try a natural toothpaste, free from microplastics. Weleda offers natural toothpastes in its range, such as this variant with purifying plant extracts.

Author: Noëlle van Seggelen