Many people have always had a question: before brushing your teeth, should the toothpaste be dipped in water?
Some people think that toothpaste will produce a lot of foam after dipping in water, making people brush their teeth hastily; There are also concerns that the special effect of toothpaste after dipping in water will be greatly reduced, such as whitening toothpaste.
Experts interviewed
Ge Jianping, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Tongji University
Yin Xiaomin, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Dip or not, what's the difference?
Toothpaste contains three main ingredients, namely water (accounting for 15~50%), friction agent (accounting for 25~60%), and moisturizer (accounting for 20~60%).
Toothpaste is used when brushing teeth, mainly to increase the friction of the toothbrush bristles on the surface of the teeth. Therefore, the friction agent in toothpaste is very important.
To work, toothpaste needs "water"
When brushing teeth, friction agents do not "fight alone", but "side by side" with water. Therefore, dipping in water does not affect the cleaning function of toothpaste.
The water component of the toothpaste itself not only helps to condense friction particles, but also cushions the friction between friction particles and teeth.
If there is only friction agent in the toothpaste, the solid particles are like a plate of loose sand, and cannot play the expected cleaning effect; Its texture will be harder, "hard" with the teeth, but damage the teeth.
Toothpaste needs moisture to dissolve in the mouth
Although there is saliva in the mouth, for some people, toothpaste may be uncomfortable absorbing too much moisture from the oral mucosa, especially if the saliva secretion is abnormal, you can dip some water before brushing your teeth.
In addition, surfactants and foaming agents in some toothpastes must function in a watery environment; The composition of teeth whitened teeth in toothpaste is usually peroxide, which can only be produced after hydrolysis. In these cases, dipping is more suitable.
In general, dip or not dip before brushing your teeth, choose according to personal habits. If you have to make a choice, there is a way to have the best of both worlds: rinse your mouth before brushing your teeth and brush your teeth when your mouth is wet.
Guide to choosing toothbrushes and toothpaste
Whether the teeth can be brushed clean is related to the brushing method and utensils. When choosing toothpaste and toothbrush, you can choose according to your needs.
How to choose toothpaste?
Oral health people: People with healthy teeth do not have to choose expensive or functional products, as long as the fluorine-containing and friction agent particles are fine.
Patients with periodontitis: preferred medicated toothpaste, which can be used during periodontitis attacks because it contains antibacterial ingredients.
If your teeth feel sore: Consider using a desensitizing toothpaste, which contains potassium nitrate or strontium chloride to its ingredients.
People with pigmented adhesion: should choose whitening toothpaste, which contains zinc citrate or hydroxyapatite, which has a certain cleaning effect on the pigment.
People with dental caries: it is advisable to choose fluoride toothpaste, fluoride can enhance the resistance of tooth enamel to acid erosion and inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
There are also fruit-flavored toothpastes in the market to help children enjoy brushing their teeth. Be careful not to give your child a toothpaste that contains sweeteners, otherwise it will get stuck on the surface of the teeth or between the teeth, which will cause tooth decay.
How to choose a toothbrush?
Ordinary toothbrushes: Healthy people should choose a toothbrush with a smaller brush head and a round blunt tip at the tip of the toothbrush head to avoid damage to the gums and teeth when brushing. The bristles should be moderately soft and hard, softer bristles can reduce damage to teeth and gums, but too soft will make it difficult to clean the gaps between the teeth thoroughly.
Interdental brush: Patients with periodontitis and the elderly can choose "interdental brush". Periodontal disease often leads to larger gaps between the teeth, and the elderly will have physiological gum recession, and the interdental brush can remove food debris like a toothpick, and the bristles are soft and almost do not damage the gums.
Electric toothbrushes: Electric toothbrushes are suitable for consumers who need special oral health care, such as orthodontic people wearing fixed appliances, people with artificial dental implants in the mouth, patients with complex fillings or prostheses, patients with gingivitis or periodontitis, etc.
There are 7 important points to brushing your teeth correctly
Brushing our teeth is a "skill" that we have learned since childhood, but many people have been brushing their teeth in the wrong way. The following points should be paid attention to every brushing of your teeth.
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The toothbrush is at a 45-degree angle to the tooth surface
When brushing their teeth, many people tend to get used to the toothbrush perpendicular to the tooth surface, which has the greatest impact on the teeth, and excessive amplitude may also scratch the gums.
The correct way is to put the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, which is the most effective way to clean the teeth, between the teeth, and avoid damaging the gums.
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The force should be light
Brushing too hard can easily damage the gums, the action should be short and gentle, not too large, especially beware of the gum edge.
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You can't just brush the surface
Brushing teeth should not only brush the surface, but also brush the back of the socket, crown and other parts, and at the same time clean the food debris between the teeth.
If you have dental repairs or dentures, don't forget to clean up the dirt in them, which are easier to stuff teeth.
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Avoid left and right "sawing"
When brushing teeth, you should hold the toothbrush in your hand and brush up and down in the direction of tooth growth to effectively remove debris between the teeth. Many people like to brush their teeth like a "saw" left and right, which not only has low cleaning efficiency, but also causes wedge-shaped defects, resulting in faster tooth loss.
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Guaranteed brushing time
The ideal brushing time is 3~5 minutes. The softener in the toothpaste works, and it takes at least 3 minutes to soften and thoroughly remove food debris.
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Brush your teeth with your tongue
The tongue has a rough texture and bacteria attach to it easily. Tongue brushing is an important part of oral hygiene.
You can buy specialized tools or gently brush your tongue directly with a toothbrush. Pay attention to the brushing tongue should not be too long and too strong, simple cleaning can be.
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Floss is essential
Try to floss all areas of your teeth, including the gum edges. Using gentle rubbing motions, slide the floss into the space between the gums and teeth, allowing the floss to move vertically up and down, rubbing the side of the tooth. ▲