How to Clean Your Teeth Like Hygienists

Most dentists and dental hygienists recommend receiving a professional dental cleaning twice a year. Beyond the dentist's office, you can mimic that clean feeling you get by practicing good oral care habits at home. Using an electric toothbrush, proper brushing technique, a good mouthwash and daily flossing can keep your teeth in tip-top shape between professional cleanings.

Things You'll Need

• Electric or battery-powered toothbrush
• Mouthwash
• Dental floss
• Toothpaste

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Instructions

• 1

  Brush with an electric toothbrush. The Oral B website references a 2005 independent study in which it was shown that electric or battery-powered rotating toothbrushes removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis better than manual toothbrushes. Battery-powered and electric toothbrushes offer many advanced options such as pressure signals to let you know if you're brushing too hard or timers that help you brush for the recommended amount of time.

• 2

  Brush properly. According to 1-800-Dentist, most dentists recommend that you spend a full two minutes brushing your teeth morning and night --- and preferably after every meal. Use short, back-and-forth and up-and-down strokes, paying attention to your gum line, molars and anywhere you've had a filling or root canal. Brush the inner and outer surfaces of all the upper teeth, then do the same for the teeth on the bottom. Avoid brushing too hard, which is irritating to the gums, and brush your tongue to remove bacteria that can cause bad breath.

• 3

  Use a mouthwash. Dr. James Jacobs, former assistant clinical professor of periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, recommends incorporating a mouthwash into your daily oral routine. A mouthwash that contains fluoride will help to reduce cavities and periodontal disease while leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Antiseptic mouthwashes also greatly reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria on teeth and gums, reducing the risk of gingivitis.

• 4

  Floss regularly. A toothbrush can't reach the tight spaces between teeth or under your gum line. A study published in the "Journal of Periodontology" confirms the importance of flossing; subjects who combined tooth brushing with daily flossing experience a 38 percent decrease in gingival bleeding; the control group that did not floss daily saw up to a 4 percent increase in gingival bleeding. MayoClinic.com recommends using an ample amount of floss and pulling it through teeth one at a time. If you have a hard time getting it between your teeth, try the smoother waxed variety.