The Secret To Good Oral Hygiene

Most people in clinics ask me about which toothpaste to use,

First of all you can use any normal toothpaste if you don’t have any oral health problems like gingivitis or periodontitis, we don’t take medicine in the fear of disease, we take it when actual disease arrives. So don’t use any medicated toothpaste, until you don’t have and oral disease.

Second and most important thing is the brushing technique that matters the most, many of us are brushing wrong since childhood, even I myself did it wrong before going to dental school. Brushing harder doesn’t mean brushing better.

Modified Bass Technique, is used for as correct brushing technique, it includes

Place the bristle at 45° angle towards the gums.

Take 3 teeth at a time, back and forth motion 20 times and than sweep down.

Don’t forget lingual and palatal surfaces of Teeth, do it in circular or vibratory motions, try to reach all the surface

Use Floss, don’t forget to clean your tongue.

Tell me how many of us were brushing right. At what age we come to know about correct brushing technique.

MBH/AB

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Very well explained! This is such a practical reminder that it’s not just about which toothpaste we use, but how we use it. The emphasis on correct brushing technique and simple habits like flossing and tongue cleaning is so important. At the end of the day, daily habits matter the most in maintaining good oral health.

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Well explained, Dr. Batra. But I’d beg to differ regarding advising patients on using any toothpaste. This comes from my own personal experience; I’ve seen many patients during my time as a dental house surgeon with severe cervical abrasions and attritions. When I used to ask them what toothpaste they were using, they would all give the name of one very famous brand, an old player in the market which has the highest amount of abrasive particle content and the least fluoride content ( almost negligible)that’s usually recommended.

Not going to take names here, but it’s widely advertised as an Ayurvedic non-fluoride toothpaste in India. It comes in red packaging.

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