In short, prevention and dental hygiene is the key to avoiding bothersome dental treatments, which is why there are some very simple rules for dental maintenance and cleaning to prevent cavities and periodontal diseases.
We can compare our mouth to a “reservoir” of bacteria and some species of fungi. This highlights the importance of prevention and dental hygiene to avoid contracting oral cavity diseases, prevent their overproduction, and maintain our health.
Undoubtedly, the primary advantage of proper dental hygiene is the prevention of dental caries, plaque, and tartar, and with it, the elimination of related damage and, of course, benefits to general health, a topic to which we have already dedicated a section.
Let’s begin by answering the most common questions that have reached our IMOI clinics in Barcelona and Ibiza from patients seeking to prevent any oral disease.
Who is responsible for my dental hygiene and prevention?
Everyone is responsible for proper dental hygiene through consistent and correct brushing; however, your IMOI dentist can intervene professionally to achieve optimal oral hygiene and perform a professional cleaning. Additionally, this allows for timely detection of potential diseases in early stages and provides recommendations for maintenance and hygiene, as these vary from patient to patient.
How is a professional dental care and maintenance session performed?
Effective prevention and dental hygiene should be performed by professionals and can be divided into several phases:
Initially, the IMOI doctor conducts a brief interview with the patient to assess their cleaning habits, medical history, etc. Once the interview is complete, they will proceed to evaluate the oral conditions, detect and treat any cavities, remove tartar, and clean surfaces that cannot be reached with home oral hygiene, all while respecting the delicate surrounding periodontal tissues.
An air polisher can also be used, which combines the action of baking soda, water, and air to remove surface pigmentations on the teeth, such as stains from coffee, tea, nicotine, etc.
Finally, the dentist provides the finishing polish and advises on the cleaning method to follow. The duration of the session varies according to the patient’s characteristics.
How often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?
The frequency should be determined by your dentist once they are familiar with your complete oral health history. Generally, we recommend twice a year, or once every 6 months.
Most common diseases if we do not maintain proper dental hygiene
One of the most common and damaging oral diseases is periodontal disease, commonly known as “pyorrhea.” Periodontal disease , commonly called “pyorrhea.” If initial gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into periodontal disease.
Gingivitis is an inflammatory condition of the soft tissues surrounding the tooth. If this gingival inflammation is left untreated, it can lead to periodontal disease which, in addition to the soft tissues, attacks the supporting structures of the tooth such as the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone. In the absence of proper hygiene and treatment, it can progress to tooth loss.
The main triggers of periodontal disease are the presence of bacterial plaque and calculus. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate these two factors through the sessions explained above, where tartar removal is performed.
Dental Prevention: Oral Care
Improving home oral care techniques is of great importance for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. At IMOI clinics, we provide correct instructions for patients to maintain oral hygiene at home.
Basic rules for home dental care:
- Brush your teeth after every meal
- Brush teeth for at least 3 minutes.
- Floss once a day
Regarding toothbrushing, the question many patients ask today is: Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush? An electric toothbrush could be better than a manual one, but it is neither necessary nor indispensable.
Correct use of the electric toothbrush for good oral hygiene:
- Moisten the bristles
- Place the bristles on each of the three surfaces of the tooth.
- Hold still on the surface for 3.2 seconds with light contact on the gum.
- Move to the next tooth.
Correct use of the manual toothbrush
- Moisten the bristles
- Place the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum, in contact with the tooth.
- Rotate the bristles in a circular motion over the teeth.
- Avoid horizontal movements as they do not guarantee the elimination of bacteria and can irreversibly damage the gums and, in some cases, even the tooth enamel.
- Brush for about 3 minutes
There are manual toothbrushes with bristles: extra soft, soft, medium, hard. Soft, medium, and extra soft bristles are especially recommended for those with gingival recession caused by improper brushing.
Hard bristles: these are quite aggressive on the gums and are recommended only for cleaning removable dentures.
Change your toothbrush every 3-4 months.
Interdental cleaning areas
Cleaning the spaces between the teeth is very important. Most gum disease begins in this area. The use of dental floss is recommended. We also recommend that you visit any of our IMOI clinics if you need advice on how to use this dental cleaning resource; our doctors are always willing to explain in detail the cleaning process you should follow with both brushing and dental floss.
Remember that prevention is the foundation for avoiding oral and other diseases. Do not disregard all the alternatives currently available to you in terms of dental care.
Our mouth is a reflection of our personality and personal care, but also of our overall health, so let’s give it the attention and care it deserves. Investing in our health is always the best option.
For any questions, do not hesitate to use the chat on the page; our dentists will assist you.
