A grudge against the dentist? Too many French people fear going to the dentist, even though a routine appointment once a year is recommended. To keep your teeth healthy, it is better to forget about toothpastes or the various miraculous mouthwashes and focus on good brushing, emphasizes Gérard Dupeyrat, stomatologist and author of All my teeth up to 102, are you serious?” published by Le courier du livre in the latest BFMTV health podcast.
If when you were a child you were often told that you should brush your teeth for 3 minutes and 3 times a day, you should know that dentists have now revised their recommendations.
“We have to go back to the basics. What is brushing for? It is used exclusively to eliminate bacterial plaque (…) which is plaque that is deposited on the back of the teeth” and that “is not something hard” as opposed to tartar, explains Gérard Dupeyrat.
So be careful to go there carefully. If you brush too roughly, you run the risk of “damaging your gums and the tartar will still be there,” warns the dentist.
“(Brushing) should exclusively affect the dental crowns and in no case the gum,” which is a “mucous membrane, like the tongue,” the doctor also emphasizes, recommending acting “from top to bottom.”
The first brushing is “effective”
Regarding the duration of brushing, Gérard Dupeyrat states that “if we want to be really effective in terms of brushing, there is no ideal duration, we must (…) use a plaque developer, which colors the dental plaque, and as there is a little discoloration, you have to keep cleaning.”
It doesn’t matter what type of toothbrush, electric or manual, as long as the brushing is done well, according to the doctor. “Brushing simply has to be effective,” he says.
If you use an electric toothbrush, however, be careful not to fall into a bad habit: “What we all tend to do is that at the same time that we use the electric toothbrush that makes the rotating movement, we make the horizontal movement manually. Nonsense according to the practitioner.
“It is not a miracle toothpaste”
Also be wary of dental products that promise white teeth with less effort. “There is no miracle toothpaste, it is very commercial,” proclaims Gérard Dupeyrat.
The same thing happens with toothpastes that are called whitening, but they do not actually guarantee bright teeth and are “more abrasive than the others.” Also be careful with products sold on the Internet that are sometimes “aggressive and uncontrolled” and can cause “gum inflammation.”
Mouthwashes, which are sold as a necessary complement to brushing your teeth, tend to be “a little alcoholic,” which gives a false “impression of freshness,” says the stomatologist.
In the case of “true yellowing of the tooth”, that is, yellowness linked “to real pathologies or aging”, according to the doctor, “at that time, only a chemical reaction can whiten the dentin again.” In this case it is a “medical” issue that is treated with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to protect the gums.
Floss daily
Every day, Gérard Dupeyrat recommends using dental floss, which is “an essential complement to traditional brushing.”
“The interdental brush is very good clinically as long as it is used perpendicular to the axis of the teeth (…) so as not to traumatize the small intergival triangle,” he adds.
Regular scaling to remove plaque is also recommended, “on average twice a year,” but this varies depending on “how quickly tartar forms.” Gérard Dupeyrat, however, reminds us of the importance of prioritizing “prevention” instead of “multiplying decalcifications.”
According to a survey conducted by Yougov for the French Union of Dental Surgeons (UFSBD) and Oral-B, published in 2022, 36% of respondents say they have been to the dentist less than six months ago and 22% between six months and a year. anus. back. There are also many who haven’t been there for a year or two.
Source: BFM TV
