Brushing alone is not enough for healthy teeth
21st February 2012
Although an effective dental health routine always begins with thorough and regular teeth brushing, experts have warned that good oral hygiene requires more than this alone.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, has pointed out the importance of using dental products such as dental floss to keep your pearly whites clean and healthy.
"Using inter-dental brushes, floss or tape at least once a day will help to remove plaque and debris from between the teeth where the toothbrush can't reach," he said.
"Brushing alone will only clean around 60 per cent of the tooth surface, so it is important to remember there are products available to help you establish and develop a good oral health routine."
According to the Adult Dental Health Survey, published in March 2011, while 75 per cent of adults brush their teeth twice a day, only 22 per cent use dental floss as part of their oral health routine.
The data gives some indication of why just under a third (31 per cent) of adults suffer from obvious tooth decay, leading to the need for full dental implants or other cosmetic dentistry treatments to replace or restore missing, cracked and chipped teeth.
While just 31 per cent of people were shown to use mouthwash as part of their dental routine, Dr Carter emphasises the benefits this product to protect against tooth decay.
"Using a mouthwash containing an anti-bacterial ingredient can help reduce plaque and prevent gum disease," he added.
"Mouthwashes may also contain fluoride to help prevent decay and will help to wash away particles of food."
Even among those adults who brush regularly, the average time spent scrubbing your pearly whites is estimated to be only around 45 seconds, far below the recommended two minutes.
By stepping up their brushing habits and introducing some simple dental products into their oral hygiene routine, adults can easily avoid what are usually entirely preventable dental health problems.
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