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Oral hygiene at home

The practice can do a great deal — but most of it you do yourself.

To keep the risk of diseases such as caries and periodontitis as low as possible, teeth and gums need thorough oral hygiene at home. The task is to remove bacterial deposits on the teeth and between them several times a day. Teeth and gums should also look good and healthy – and here too, regular and correct care with the right aids and the right techniques helps

Thorough dental hygiene at home is certainly more than just "brushing your teeth". It should be part of a healthy way of living that can also reduce the risk of disease in the long run. Yet caring for the teeth in particular is often seen as a tiresome part of the daily routine and readily pushed back into the evening wash – a mistake with consequences

Anyone who does not care for their teeth properly offers bacteria an ideal breeding ground. In the niches and corners especially, food remains keep the bacteria supplied – for instance at the gum line, where inflammation can develop. Regular care with a toothbrush alone is not enough: it reaches only around 60 % of the surfaces covered by bacteria

Information on ideal care of teeth and gums, and the right technique for using toothbrush, floss, tongue scraper and the rest, is part of a modern prevention programme at your dental practice

Oral hygiene at home is an essential part of every prevention plan. Correct and thorough brushing several times a day, ideally after every meal and for at least three minutes each time, stands at the beginning of personal prevention. Suitable aids (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, interdental brushes and so on) make thorough cleaning easier

Answered briefly

Frequently asked questions

Twice a day, about two minutes each time, in a systematic order so that no surface is left out. What counts is not the pressure but the thoroughness.
Both work if the technique is right. Electric brushes take over part of the work and help especially where mobility is limited. The best brush is the one that actually gets used.
Where the gap allows it, the interdental brush is more effective. Floss is for tight spaces that no brush fits into. The practice determines the right size – too small does not clean, too large injures.
No. A rinse reaches the surface of the bacterial film, not its core. It is an addition, not a substitute.
A large share of the bacteria in the mouth sits on the back of the tongue. Removing them there daily lowers the germ count noticeably – and prevents bad breath.