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What are the Best Tips for Teeth Cleaning?

By K T Solis
Updated: Mar 03, 2024

Good oral hygiene is the best way to ensure that teeth remain strong and healthy. Teeth cleaning on a regular basis is one of the primary ways to maintain teeths' health and appearance. By following a few simple rules, people can help avoid both tooth decay and tooth loss.

Teeth cleaning is performed by using a toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. First, it’s important to use a toothbrush with a soft bristle. Avoid hard bristles, as they can damage the teeth and gums. Proper teeth cleaning involves brushing the teeth at least twice a day. Failing to brush at least twice a day can cause the buildup of plaque on the surface of the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance comprised of bacteria. If the plaque is not brushed away, it adheres to the teeth and can lead to tooth decay.

Teeth cleaning with a toothbrush involves holding the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle close to the gums and gently brushing the teeth in an up-and-down direction. If a person wishes to thoroughly clean the teeth, he or she must brush all tooth surfaces, including the interior and exterior sections. This brushing process should continue for about two or three minutes.

Although a toothbrush and toothpaste are necessary for teeth cleaning, these items are not the only tools needed to enjoy clean, healthy teeth. Dental floss is another important tool used to keep teeth in good condition. If a person does not use dental floss on a daily basis, food particles can become trapped between the teeth. If these particles remain between the crevices of the teeth, plaque can form. This ultimately leads to tooth decay.

When a person flosses his or her teeth, he or she removes a section of dental floss from the container and wraps one section around a middle finger. He or she then winds the other section of floss around the middle finger of the opposite hand. The person then places the floss in between the teeth, moving the floss in between the teeth to remove food particles. He or she applies the floss to all of the teeth in the mouth to ensure that no food residue remains between the teeth.

Teeth cleaning involves another aspect of dental care as well. Visiting the dentist every six months is a crucial component of good dental hygiene. In addition to providing a dental exam, the dentist or dental hygienist performs a professional teeth cleaning on his or her patients. During a professional cleaning, the dental professional uses a scraper, ultrasound equipment, and other dental tools to thoroughly clean and polish the teeth.

The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By bagley79 — On Jun 23, 2012

I don't have dental insurance either, but try not to let the cost of teeth cleaning keep me from going every 6 months. If I wait any longer than that, the plaque on my bottom teeth really starts to bother me.

What I do to try and save money is not have the x-rays taken as often. These can cost more than the cost of the teeth cleaning.

There is nothing better than how clean my teeth feel after getting them professionally cleaned and polished. Even though I brush more than once a day and try to floss several times a week, they never feel as good as they do after a trip to the dentist.

By golf07 — On Jun 22, 2012

@LisaLou - I think I should try using an electric tooth brush. I have a tendency to brush too hard, which has worn down the enamel on some of my teeth. In the past I would use a hard bristle brush and brush as hard as I could.

I didn't realize that I was actually doing some damage to my teeth by doing it this way. Since then I have switched to a soft bristle brush and try to make a conscious effort to not use as much pressure when I brush.

I don't have any dental insurance so always pay the dentist teeth cleaning bill out of my pocket. Because of this I only go once a year instead of every 6 months like they recommend.

If I used an electric toothbrush instead of what I am using now, it might help keep my teeth in better shape until my next visit.

By LisaLou — On Jun 21, 2012

My teeth seem to stay a lot cleaner when I use an electric toothbrush instead of a manual one. Some of these units can be kind of pricey, so I was reluctant to spend the money on one at first.

Once I got used to using this I found that my teeth stayed cleaner. My dentist could also tell a difference at my next visit. The electric toothbrush does a better job of cleaning the teeth in the back, and those hard to reach places.

It also helps control the amount of pressure you put on your teeth. Using too much pressure can be just as hard on your teeth as not cleaning them on a regular basis.

By honeybees — On Jun 21, 2012

It took me a long time before I got in the habit of flossing my teeth every day. I used to only do this a few days before I was going to the dentist, and then my gums would always bleed.

He could always tell that I wasn't flossing on a regular basis and kept telling me that was one of the best ways to keep my teeth and gums clean and healthy.

My insurance pays for dental teeth cleaning every 6 months, so even though I was doing this, I wasn't doing a very good job of flossing between visits.

Once I finally started doing this on a regular basis, I noticed a difference in the plaque build up on my teeth and the health of my gums. My teeth also just feel cleaner every day and I really can tell if I don't floss for a few days.

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