There are many old wives tails about how best to clean your teeth and it can sometimes be confusing when there are conflicting stories about toothbrushes and oral hygiene.
Michaela O’Neill, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, spoke to Mailonline about the best ways to avoid plaque and tooth decay, and maintain a healthy set of teeth for a long time. Michaela suggests flossing every day to kill bacteria and prevent gum disease; she advises use of floss or interdental brushes, not just to clear away food particles but also to remove bacteria from under the gum line. As well as flossing, Michaela suggests that you don’t rinse your mouth out after brushing your teeth; she says ‘The point of using fluoride toothpaste is to let the residue sit on the surface of the teeth. Fluoride strengthens the tooth’s surface, so it’s more resistant to acid from food.’
Claire O’Grady, from London Smiling Dental Group, also has some suggestions, including brushing your tongue as well as your teeth. Brushing the tongue without tooth paste should be done regularly to ‘dust the light film away’, which should help prevent bad breath and gum disease. Claire also recommends checking for plaque build-up on the teeth with a weekly plaque test – chewable tablets that show up the transparent film of bacteria on the enamel.