A decent brush and some technique can go a surprising amount toward improving your smile and general health.

Two manual toothbrushes in a glass and two electronic toothbrushes standing on a marble bathroom counter; the background is white tile.
Professional teeth cleaning feels like a dental health reset. Your teeth are meticulously cleansed, scraped, and polished. You decide whether they continue to be that way. The events that take place at home (think of the Vegas rules) and at the dentist's office can differ greatly. But try not to clench your teeth about it. Take a look at these three suggestions to up your tooth-brushing game and enhance your health at the same time.

1. Know the incentives.

Bits of food or leftover liquid might stick to your teeth and gums every time you eat or drink something. Plaque is a sticky film made of the trash and its germs. It calcifies if it is left on the teeth for too long. Calculus is the term for the hardened plaque that is resistant to brushing away with a toothbrush.

"Bacteria that form cavities, erode enamel, and tunnel through the tooth toward the nerve and jaw bone within the calculus can lead to illness if left untreated. The brain, heart, and lungs are among the areas of your body where germs can spread from there "says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology.

Additionally, bacteria from plaque can irritate and infect the gums, which can harm the jaw bone, ligaments keeping the teeth in place, and gum tissue, leading to tooth loss.

Given all of things, it may not come as a surprise that poor oral health is linked to diseases including pneumonia, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis.

2. Pick a quality toothbrush.

There are several possibilities for toothbrushes, from basic plastic sticks with bristles to high-tech devices with bristles that spin or vibrate. But guess what? According to Dr. Jiang, "It's not the toothbrush that matters, it's the technique." "Perhaps you have a brush that takes care of everything. However, even with an electric toothbrush, you'll miss plaque if you don't have a good brushing technique."

Therefore, avoid believing fancy marketing claims that one toothbrush is superior to another. In its place, she suggests:

• Purchase a toothbrush that you enjoy and will use frequently.
• Based on the state of your gums, choose the bristles. "You need gentle, non-irritating bristles if your gums are sensitive. Using harsh bristles is acceptable if you don't have any gum issues "says Dr. Jiang.
• Every few months, change your toothbrush. If the bristles are no longer upright and fanned out, or if your teeth don't feel clean after brushing, Dr. Jiang advises getting a new brush.

 What if you want an electric toothbrush because it's difficult for you         to handle a brush or brush properly, or if you just like the toy-like             attraction of a high-tech brush?

3. Apply the proper brushing method.

Dr. Jiang advises utilising the following technique for brushing and flossing twice daily, regardless of the type of toothbrush you use:

• Spend two minutes brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste. Spend 30 seconds on each portion of the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right teeth.
• Orient the brush. "The gums and teeth touch at this point, and this is where plaque and calculus tend to accumulate. You want the bristles to be inclined at a 45-degree angle rather than perpendicular to your teeth at a 90-degree angle "says Dr. Jiang.
• Use the bristles to make circles. Dr. Jiang advises rotating the brushes in a gently sweeping manner to assist capture dirt near the gum line.
• Avoid outside distractions while brushing so that you may concentrate on your technique.
• Be kind. Your gums can become irritated and possibly hurt if you brush too vigorously. Clean your tongue as well. It gathers lots of bacteria, which must be swept off.
• Rinse your toothbrush and mouth out. Remove any toothpaste and food residue with water.

Even if you experience anxiety during these appointments, schedule cleanings with a dental hygienist every six months and an annual appointment with your dentist. Additionally, call the dental staff if you experience any issues in between appointments. But bear in mind that good dental hygiene habits at home, rather than in the dentist's office, do the bulk of the work.