Maintaining good oral hygiene takes among other things, regularly brushing your teeth. Tell me something I don´t know, you may say.

Dental associations around the world recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time. That means brush after breakfast for two minutes and again at night for another two minutes. That is a whopping four minutes out of your day and yet not everyone follows this recommendation. More people than you might think actually go through the day only brushing once. While that is better than not brushing at all which is essentially 2% of the population, it actually increases your chances of incurring costly dental treatment later on.

Brushing your teeth twice a day as is suggested by dental professionals has a few advantages, it saves the embarrassment of having bad breath and stained teeth.

By brushing only once a day:

1. Cavities are almost a certainty and that increases your risk by 33%. When you brush your teeth, it helps to remove food particles and the sticky substance containing bacteria that forms on your teeth called plaque. This bacteria-containing plaque produces acid which attack tooth enamel and if not removed causes cavities.

2. Increases your chance of getting gum disease – only brushing once every 24 hours creates a feast for the existing bacteria in your mouth. The plaque that isn’t removed hardens and becomes tartar which makes it harder to keep the teeth clean. Tartar build-up on your gums leads to inflammation and bleeding gums that causes gum disease. This is also known as periodontal disease.

3. Can lead to more dental treatment. Needing a one-off filling is one thing and can happen to the best of us, but brushing only once a day almost guarantees more fillings and bigger fillings. Sometimes the tooth is decayed to the point of needing root canal treatment or a crown. Those costs can be avoided by adding another two minutes a day to your brushing routine.

One of the best ways to care for your teeth and gums is simple. Regular brushing. And that means twice a day. After meals.

Adding flossing to your routine is also beneficial, but that is for another day.

Dentistry, much like art, requires fingerspitzengefühl, a term taken from German, literally meaning “finger tips feeling” or intuitive flair or instinct. In today´s world of cosmetic dentistry it is the combination of fingerspitzengefühl along with skill, precision, intuition, architecture, engineering, medical science and artistry all working together in harmony to create not just a beautiful smile, but a functional smile.

Dentists learn the importance of the foundation of a healthy smile organically and through the advancement of imaging techniques such as periapical (also known as intraoral), panoramic, and cephalometric x-rays, a dentist can digitally capture images of your teeth and gums to evaluate your overall oral health to develop treatment plans for patients. There is however, much more that goes into a healthy, beautiful smile than a series of x-rays.

As dentists know the biology and physiology of the oral cavity and surrounding structure, it is not just through imaging, but also through observation and the clinical judgement of the dentist to make a diagnosis and plan of treatment. Photography and effective communication with patients to determine their expectations and what is actually possible also plays a vital role.

While science has propelled dentistry forward in the last 30 years it is that fingerspitzengefühl, that keen eye for detail, that eye for beauty, that instinct for the shape of teeth that corresponds with the age, skin colour, shape of lips, the proportion of teeth that show and the overall shape of the face of a patient that help determine the final result of any restoration, especially a smile make-over.

Having state of the art materials and equipment in the hands of a passionate dentist, with the right eye and fingerspitzengefühl, can only be a formula for success to achieve optimal balance between fit, appearance and function.

Yes, flossing helps to remove plaque and debris from between the teeth and along the gumline, where a toothbrush cannot reach. This can help to reduce inflammation and bleeding in the gums, prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and promote overall oral health. It is important to floss daily and use proper technique to achieve the best results.

A 2006 study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that brushing alone was not as effective at reducing bleeding gums as brushing and flossing together. The study included 51 sets of twins, and researchers found that twin pairs who flossed in addition to brushing had significantly less bleeding on probing (a measure of gum health) than those who only brushed. This suggests that flossing can help to reduce inflammation and bleeding in the gums, and is an important part of maintaining oral health.

Many people who suffer from sensitive or bleeding gums may be tempted to avoid flossing for fear of making their gums bleed more. The fact is, flossing can improve the health of your gums and as a result helps to prevent them from bleeding.

The fact is, flossing daily, together with brushing and rinsing, helps protect against gingivitis by removing plaque and food particles. This helps keep your teeth and gums healthy, while giving you a beautiful smile.

You want a beautiful smile no matter your age? Floss!

To brush your teeth properly, follow these steps:

1. Wet your toothbrush and add toothpaste.

2. Hold your toothbrush against your teeth at a 45-degree angle.

3. Use gentle circular motions to brush the fronts, backs, and tops of your teeth.

4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.

5. Spit out the toothpaste and rinse your mouth and toothbrush with water.

6. Brush for at least two minutes, twice a day.

For good dental health it’s also important to floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

For most people a visit to your dentist or dental hygienist every 6 months for cleaning is a must. Book your dental appointment today.

A common question we hear at Stockholm Dental is, “Do I really need to floss, or is brushing enough?” Unlike many things in life, flossing isn’t a mere suggestion; it’s actually an integral part of good oral hygiene, therefore, an indispensable part of your daily routine.

The purpose of flossing is to remove plaque and food particles from tight spaces between your teeth and hard to reach places. Flossing helps to keep your gums protected from bacteria which can cause periodontal disease. Flossing also keeps your teeth free of decay and your smile white.

The purpose of daily flossing is not only to promote healthy teeth, it further contributes to your health in other ways. There is increasing evidence linking periodontal disease to an increased risk of heart disease and an increase of inflammatory substances in the blood. (See blog post Jan 11, 2022)

Teeth brushing alone may not protect you from gum disease and subsequent tooth loss in extreme cases; however, adding flossing to your daily routine helps improve the health of your gums which in turn prevents gums from bleeding and feeding bacteria which causes tooth decay.

The American Dental Association has recommended flossing since 1908 and that recommendation hasn’t changed. Make the most of your oral care routine.

Don’t skip the flossing.