A house supported by only one pillar is unstable. The same applies to oral health. Many patients believe that “brushing your teeth” alone is sufficient. From a medical perspective, however, the toothbrush used at home is only one of four essential pillars needed to reliably protect against tooth decay and periodontal disease in the long term.
Modern preventive dentistry is based on four stable pillars. If one of them becomes unstable, the entire system is at risk. We show you how to build your personal protective shield.
Pillar 1: Home biofilm management (the daily foundation)
We deliberately speak of management, not just “brushing.” Bacteria organize themselves in a sticky biofilm that must be mechanically disrupted.
- Technique over time: Whether you brush for two or three minutes is less important than reaching every tooth surface thoroughly. Electric toothbrushes with pressure control can be especially helpful and gentle on the gums.
- The critical 30 percent: A toothbrush only cleans the chewing, outer, and inner surfaces. The spaces between the teeth (interdental areas), however, make up around 30% of the total tooth surface. Anyone who does not use dental floss or interdental brushes effectively leaves one third of their teeth uncleaned. This is where most adult cavities begin.
- Tip: Clean interdental spaces Before brushing. This allows the active ingredients in the toothpaste to reach these areas afterward.
Pillar 2: Fluoride (the chemical protective shield)
Mechanical cleaning alone is not enough — chemistry plays an essential role. Fluoride is not merely an additive; it is a natural repair tool.
- What it does: Acids from food dissolve minerals from tooth enamel. Fluoride promotes remineralization, meaning calcium is reintegrated into the tooth structure. It also hardens enamel and makes it more resistant to future acid attacks.
- How to use it: Use toothpaste containing 1,450 ppm fluoride for adults.
- Professional tip (“spit, don’t rinse”): After brushing, spit out the foam but do not rinse with water. Rinsing washes away the protective fluoride immediately. Leaving a thin residue on the teeth allows it to work for longer, ideally overnight.
- Nutrition: Using fluoridated table salt at home helps ensure basic fluoride intake.
Pillar 3: Tooth-friendly nutrition (biological balance)
You do not need to eliminate sugar entirely — you simply need to consume it wisely.
- Frequency matters more than quantity: Every intake of sugar or carbohydrates leads to acid production by oral bacteria. Saliva needs approximately three to four hours to neutralize these acids and repair the enamel. Constant snacking or sipping sugary drinks (including juices) does not allow teeth sufficient recovery time.
- The strategy: It is better to enjoy sweets once as a dessert rather than consuming them repeatedly throughout the day.
- Chewing as training: Raw vegetables and whole-grain bread stimulate saliva flow. Saliva is your body’s natural “mouthwash” — it neutralizes acids and helps remove food debris.
Pillar 4: Professional preventive care (the safety net)
Even with excellent home care, certain areas remain difficult to reach. This is where professional dental cleaning (PDC) and professional biofilm management come into play.
- Deep cleaning: We remove hard tartar and soft biofilm even below the gum line and in hard-to-reach areas.
- Surface smoothing: Polished, smooth tooth surfaces make it harder for new bacteria to adhere.
- Risk assessment: We identify problems before they cause pain. An individualized recall interval — usually two to four times per year, depending on risk — helps preserve your teeth in the long term.
Conclusion: Oral health is teamwork. You take care of pillars 1, 2, and 3 at home — and we support you with pillar 4 in our practice. Together, we form a strong and effective defense against tooth decay.