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Let's Begin to Learn How to Really Clean Our Teeth. Everybody knows the importance of oral hygiene and therefore brushes his or her teeth everyday but only a few people do it properly.

Hoping to solve the problem people use sage, bicarbonate, chewing gums, special toothpastes and rinses, buy sophisticate toothbrushes, and use powerful water-spray. However the only real way to prevent caries and periodontal problems is to use the toothbrush together with the dental floss or proximal-brush, with the adequate technique and timing.

Brushing. Using a correct brushing technique is not very easy. It is the responsability of the dentist or the dental hygienist to teach each patient a brushing technique adequate to the patient's mouth. A general rule is to reach all the teeth-surfaces, not only the ones visible when smiling.

- Brushing Technique

The toothbrush has to have a small head to be able to easily get in all the corners of the mouth. In order to be less traumatic to the gums, its bristles should be rounded, artificial, soft or medium consistency. A toothbrush needs to be replaced when the torn bristles are no long straight and should happen about every two months.

Flossing. The dental floss is a necessary friend of the mouth but most of the people dislike it because they find it difficult, boring, and painfull to use. Actually, flossing is easy, fast, and doesn't hurt if used properly. It's the only way to clean proximal surfaces of the teeth which cannot be reached by the toothbrush and where plaque and food stick more easily. Flossing requires a little bit of training and of course patience.

- Flossing Technique

Interdental Brushing. If you have adequate space between teeth the floss can be replaced by a proximal-brush, wich is easier to use and more effective in cleaning the roots. One can find different sizes and shapes of proximal brushes depending on the amount of interdental space.

The Professional Toothpick. The use of a toothpick in Italy is very common after dining and it can be responsible for causing gum-ulcerations, tooth-abrasions, and pieces of wood stuck between the teeth. You must know that they have created a professional toothpick with an anatomical triangular section, made of a tender wood, which can help in cleaning interdentally without harming and even if it is not as effective as the floss or the proximal-brush, it is better than nothing.

The Rubber-Tip. The rubber-tip or "gum-stimulator" can be considered as a big, single, delicate bristle of a toothbrush than can remove plaque in areas difficult to reach or can reshape gums after surgery if utilized to manage the interdental papilla.

The Water-Spray. It has been scientifically proved that the water-spray, even if utilized with the maximum power, can wash off food debris but it does not remove bacteria or plaque, which are the primary etiological factor of oral pathologies. Therefore water-spray can help but cannot replace the toothbrush and the dental floss.

The Electrich Brush. The new electric brushes with rotatory movements, small heads, and soft-medium bristles are atraumatic and can ease the hand movements of brushing but require the same time of use.

Oral Hygiene Timing. Brush your teeth every day, after each meal, for at least 2-3 minutes a time (always bring a travel toothbrush with you) and at least floss or use the proxy-brush. A good advice is to clean your teeth immediately after each meal because the first 30 minutes after sugar ingestion are the most critical moments in forming a cavity.

The Toothpaste. The use of a fluoride toothpaste with a low abrasivity helps fight against cavity and sensibility because it can remineralize tooth surfaces previously cleaned. Therefore use the paste at the end when most of the plaque has been removed from the teeth.

The Mouth Rinse. Pastes and rinses do not clean teeth but depending on the active ingredient, they can act as an antibacteria, anti-inflammatory, or remineralizing agent. It's better to use the rinses only when needed, after cleaning and strictly follow the indication of use.

- Chemical Products