The lifestyle of recent years has a factor that directly affects it: time. And if you don't have enough time, the time you spend on each little daily task tends to get shorter and shorter. Tooth brushing is one of the victims of this “tyrant”.

The dentist Luis Braverman (MN 11372) spoke with CONBIENESTAR and warned about how oral health is affected.

“The mouth is an organ, it is not a tooth. By this I mean that it is a part of our body that is made up of teeth and we must take care of it as we take care of the heart”, explained the expert.

And he added with humor in his didactic explanation: “What is striking is that 50% of the population is toothless. Why do people lose teeth and not eyes?

“One is very afraid of going to the dentist, first because of the classic advertising. The classic case of the image of the foot on the patient's chest to extract a tooth, for example. The lathes that existed in the past. All of those things make one afraid,” he argued.

What is the basis of mouth maintenance?

Braverman pointed to one main goal: "brushing your teeth." “We have 28 dental pieces. And you have to brush the whole circle. Since we are in a hurry in the morning and because we don't know the right technique, we only brush 20% of our teeth, and the remaining 80% is where diseases enter,” he warned.

“If everyone brushed the way they should brush, dentists wouldn't have a job. There is much to do and spread. For example, having white teeth is not having a healthy mouth. If someone praises you saying 'What a beautiful smile you have' it is very different from 'What a beautiful smile you have, who made it for you?'. Much work needs to be done in primary care.

Tips for a healthy smile

• Brush your teeth at least three times a day
• Change the toothbrush every three months
• The bristles of your toothbrush should not be too hard or too soft.
• Visit the dentist regularly (if possible every 6 months)
• The use of string is also paramount (and you'd be surprised how much food scraps are removed with them)
• Consuming fruits is very good for your health and especially apples
• Control the consumption of sugars

What is the correct way to brush?

With brushing at 45º, with at least two minutes of brushing, you should:

• Cleans the outer surfaces of the upper teeth and then those of the lower teeth
• Cleans the inner surfaces of the upper teeth and then those of the lower teeth
• Clean chewing surfaces
• For fresher breath, don't forget to brush your tongue too