How Much Toothpaste Do You Really Need to be Using?
Depending on your daily brushing habits, you might be using up toothpaste much faster than necessary. Consequently, you could be paying for dental hygiene items more often than you should. Additionally, you could be forcing yourself to make extra trips to the store – and that’s a problem during a time when social distancing is so important. A dentist in Grand Junction like Judd Chamberlain, DDS can tell you exactly how much toothpaste, dental floss, or mouthwash is enough to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy; use the following guidelines to help you conserve these items and save yourself time and money.
Dental Floss Recommendations
It’s important that the length of floss you select during each oral hygiene session isn’t too long or too short. You definitely don’t want to use more than what’s necessary, but a too-small piece will likely increase the risk of putting bacteria that has already been removed back into your mouth. An ideal length is about 18 to 24 inches in length
Toothpaste Use
Do you cover the length of the toothbrush’s head with your toothpaste? If so, that more than you really need. In fact, using an excessive quantity of toothpaste could be a detriment to your oral health; the tastes and sensations the toothpaste provides could make it feel like your mouth is perfectly clean even if you’ve in fact missed large amounts of plaque. Remember that is important to also brush all the surfaces of your teeth.
A smaller quantity of toothpaste could make it easier to recognize the spots that you’ve overlooked.
For mos of us adults, we only need a small dollop of toothpaste about the size of a pea. Children, especially toddlers, need even less; the American Dental Association states that they should only receive rice grain sized smears of toothpaste. This way, there is little chance of them experiencing intestinal problems in the advent they swallow the toothpaste.
Mouthwash Tips
The general amount of mouthwash to use is about 20 milliliters or in other terms, 2/3 of a fluid ounce. Of course, when you choose a specific brand of toothpaste it is likely to have specific instructions of its own. Most of them brands should also have some sort of guidance tool (such as a mark on the inside of the bottle’s cap) that will help measure precisely the correct amount. It’s a good idea to use this guide every time; by no means should you ever “eyeball” the amount you think you need.
If you’re still unsure or wondering about the way you use the products mentioned above, it may be worth getting in touch with our office. Our Dentists at Elevation Family Dental in Grand Junction, CO would be happy to give you and your family recommendations.
Judd Chamberlain, DDS
My small-town upbringing translates into how the office treats you as a patient. I have a conservative approach to dentistry and deep respect for your control over your dental choices. What sets me apart from most general dentists is that I completed a voluntary extra year of clinical training in dental specialties after dental school. In addition, for five years, I directed a post-graduate dental educational program through the Marillac Clinic. This means that our practice offers many specialty treatments in-house, such as root canals, implants, and extractions. It also means I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the latest technology, methods, and dental materials.
