It's important to brush your teeth after you eat, because certain food and drinks cause bacteria in your mouth to release acids that are harmful to your tooth enamel. When you eat food or drink beverages containing sugar or starch, the bacteria in your mouth produce acids that can attack your tooth enamel for 20 minutes or more. Choosing nutritious foods that are low in carbohydrates and sugar and drinking plenty of water also can help reduce harmful acid production.
There are several good reasons for keeping your teeth clean by brushing. The first is because if you don't you'll have bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria that builds up in your mouth from the food we eat, things we drink, what we breath, etc. Do you notice how your mouth tastes first thing in the morning after you wake up? That's because of the bacteria that built up in your mouth overnight. Not very pleasant is it?
The
electric toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction with a toothbrush to increase the effectiveness of toothbrushing. Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes and forms. Most dentists recommend using a toothbrush labelled "soft", since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.[1] Toothbrushes have usually been made from synthetic fibers since they were developed, although animal bristles are still sometimes used.
Position the toothbrush so that it's perpendicular to your lips, or so that the bristles are resting on top of your bottom molars. Work the toothbrush in an in-and-out motion, and move from the back of your mouth to the front. Repeat on the other side of your mouth. When the bottom teeth are clean, flip the toothbrush over and work on the top molars.
Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand — leaving about 1 inch (3 centimeters) to floss your first tooth.Floss nightly with waxed floss, using the standard flossing technique. Remove any rubber bands prior to flossing. Floss between teeth and between the wire and braces. Don't snag the floss on the apparatus. Tugging the floss loose could bend, break or loosen the braces. Any shredded pieces of floss left behind can introduce bacteria, which increases the risk of cavities and gum disease.
