The smile and its daily maintenance

If you have already undergone a cosmetic treatment at the Vélez y Lozano Dental ClinicYou will know that not everything ends with the work carried out by the professionals at the centre, but that it requires your involvement and attention in order to be maintained over time.

A smile is an investment we make in ourselves to increase our self-esteem, which has a direct impact on our work, social and personal life in a positive way, as well as finally getting that special glow in our photos that we have always wanted.

As we have already mentioned in other poststhe composites can last between 3 and 4 years, whereas the veneers or the bridges can be kept in perfect condition for up to 15 years if they are properly maintained, just as is the case with the dental implantsThe new rules, which should last practically all our lives.

It is easy to maintain:

1. Daily toothbrushing

It will always be better to brush with an oscillating-rotating-pulsating electric toothbrush, as they offer the best results for plaque control nowadays.

As far as toothpaste is concerned, the ideal is to use one with a low abrasive capacity, as the more abrasive the toothpaste we use, the less time the brightness of our restorations (whether composite or ceramic) will last. To quantify this abrasion, a scale called Relative Dentin Abrasiveness (RDA) is used, which ranges from 0 to 250.

The ideal is to use toothpastes that have a low abrasive capacity, from 0 to 70. We should avoid using toothpastes with a whitening formula, as they are the most abrasive.

2. Dental floss

Flossing or taping (although I personally recommend the latter) on a daily basis is as important as brushing for patients with any type of restoration, be it implants or inlays, composites or veneers.

It allows you to clean the contact areas between the teeth, which will prevent problems of gum inflammation or caries and keep the restorations in perfect condition.

In the specific case of having a bridge or dental implants, the ideal is to use dental irrigators, devices that spray water under pressure through an applicator and are ideal as a complement to daily brushing to ensure proper cleaning of the area under the gum.

3. Mouthwashes

Regarding the use of mouthwashes or mouth rinses, the truth is that science has not really proven that they offer notable improvements in personal oral hygiene, but they can nevertheless provide certain advantages such as:

  • An improvement in mouth odour
  • Extra fluoride in addition to the fluoride already present in toothpaste

The only consideration you should have in this regard would be to use alcohol-free or chlorhexidine-free rinses, which should only be used after the express instructions of a dentist, usually after minor surgery such as tooth extraction.

Whether you have any doubts about the proper maintenance to be carried out after a treatment or if you are wondering which options may be better for your specific case when it comes to improving the most aesthetic part of your smile, do not hesitate to consult the Vélez y Lozano Dental Clinic through our usual channels, by calling 968 28 46 28 or via WhatsApp on +34 641 60 88 32.