The best oral hygiene tips for healthy, white teeth

Category: Dental hygiene · 5 December 2018

Of course, teeth are there for chewing. But they also help us produce sounds and form words correctly. If they are crooked or teeth are missing altogether, this leads to cosmetic problems and can affect pronunciation. Two more reasons to take even better care of your dental health. That’s why we’ve selected some good, easy-to-follow tips that will help you maintain your dental health.

Part 1 – Diet: dark foods stain

The substances in red wine, black tea, cigarettes or coffee stain your teeth. Cola, gravy and red juices are also among the culprits that put an end to a dazzling white smile. So it seems obvious to reach for your toothbrush straight after enjoying foods like these and give your teeth a good scrub. But be careful: many foods contain acids that attack tooth enamel. That’s why it’s better to wait 30 minutes.

For a quick clean in between, eat an apple. If you want to whiten your teeth in the long term, it’s best to consult a specialist. A preventive professional dental cleaning every 6 months also works wonders. We advise against home bleaching products.

A tip for anyone with a sweet tooth

If you have a sweet tooth, sugary treats are balm for the soul. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for your teeth. Constant snacking puts not only your figure at risk, but your teeth too. Eat chocolate, cake and sweets in one go. It’s better for your teeth if you set aside a daily ration of your little indulgences and eat it all at once.

The same applies to drinks. One large glass is better than lots of small servings.

Crunchy or crisp foods clean your teeth while you eat them. The much-praised apple belongs in this category, as do raw carrots, celery and popcorn. Crunchy foods are a perfect stopgap between meals when you know you won’t be able to brush your teeth after eating.

Part 2 – Dental care:

How does tooth enamel actually recover? That’s the job of our saliva, which washes around the teeth and gently cleans them in the process. Minerals contained in food (for example calcium in milk) dissolve in saliva and so protect the tooth structure.

Brush twice a day, morning and evening. This is because saliva dries up at night, which makes your teeth more vulnerable. In the morning you brush away the plaque and bacteria that have built up while you were asleep. And we all learnt at primary school that we should clean our teeth before going to bed.

Replace your toothbrush or the head of your electric toothbrush at least every two to three months. This small step alone helps maintain your dental health. On the one hand, this is because the bristles “fray”; on the other, the longer you use a brush, the more bacteria collect on it.

Clean your tongue and use dental floss

This freshens your mouth and your breath. One of the main causes of bad breath is the build-up of bacteria on the tongue. A tongue scraper removes the bacteria efficiently.

Finally, we’d like to recommend dental floss – but with a twist. If you learn to floss without having to look in the mirror, you can do your teeth a favour whenever you have a spare moment. Buy several packs of floss to keep in your handbag, in the car, in your desk and in the bathroom. That way you’re more likely to remember.

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