Tips To Brush Your Teeth, The Right Way
Oral health is the most important to avoid cavities and gum disease and for this, we have to brush our teeth in the correct way but most of us do not follow this, as many are not even aware what the proper brushing technique and procedure is. That is why we have created this post to get this information to the masses.
Follow below easy-to-follow tips to brush your teeth
1. Choose the right tooth brush
Do you ever think whether your brush is right for your mouth or not?
Generally this question doesn’t come in our mind but yes your tooth brush should be according to your mouth.
Size of tooth brush
Think about the size of your mouth, says Richard H. Price, DMD, consumer advisor for the American DentalAssociation. “If you are straining to open wide enough to let the brush in, the brush is probably too big,” he
says. It should feel good in your mouth and hand, so you’ll use it often.
Bristles of tooth brush
If bristles they’re too stiff, they can hurt your gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a soft
brush.
Electric or manual?
Whether to go for electric or manual tooth brush, it should be your personal choice. Electric toothbrushes can make
it easier to do a better job, especially if you have arthritis or other trouble with your hands, arms, or
shoulders.
2. Brush your teeth for at least 2 times
You should brush your teeth twice daily. You should brush for at least 2 minutes. When brushing, divide your mouth
into 4 sections and spend 30 seconds on each.
Also, your brushing time should not be too long, otherwise plaque will build up and boost your chances of sore gums
and other problems
3. Too much brushing is not ideal
Do not brush your teeth for more than three times a day. It can wear down tooth enamel and damage your gums.
4. Hold your brush in a 45 degree angle
It is important to hold the brush in the correct way. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums, and make an up-
and-down motion. Use short strokes. Brush outer and inner tooth surfaces, back molars, and your tongue too
5. Switch between whitening toothpaste and regular
Your toothpaste also plays a vital role, do not always go for whitening toothpaste. An increase in whitening
particles can be harmful and sand away tooth structure. You can also use plain old fluoride toothpaste.
If you want to lighten your smile, you can always switch between whitening toothpaste and regular.
6. Keep your brush clean
It’s very important to rinse your brush as germs from your mouth and teeth can stay on it. You shouldn’t use a
disinfectant to cleanse your toothbrush. Just rinse it and let it air dry. Don’t put it in a case where it will
stay damp for a long time.
7. Get a new brush every 3 or 4 months
Do not use the same brush for a long time. The ADA suggests you get a new brush every 3 or 4 months. also look at
bristles, once the bristles lose their normal flexibility and start to break apart, change your toothbrush
8. Do not store the brush in the bathroom
Admit it, that most of us store the toothbrush in the bathroom, not one of the cleanest places in the house.
To keep yours tidy, stand it up in a holder. If you leave it on the counter, you could expose it to germs from your
toilet or sink. Don’t let brushes touch each other if they’re stored together.
9. Brush in Morning and in Night
The bacteria get accumulated overnight in the mouth so it is very important to brush after you wake up. Also, to get rid of the morning breath, we all get it, so brushing in the morning is a standard that pretty much everyone follows and it is as it should be too.
However, it is very important to brush in the night too, before you go to bed. A decent quantity of food particle inevitably gets collected in and around your teeth which attract bacteria which subsequently add to the erosion of teeth by attacking the teeth’s enamel.
So, as you can see, it is as important to brush in the night too. This helps remove the food particles, inhibit the growth of bacteria, and also helping to combat bad breath too.
Wash your brush with hot water in the night time to clean the bacteria off the bristles os that they do not get introduced back to your pearly whites in the morning.
10. Choose your toothpaste
Go for a fluoride-based one as they strengthen the teeth by adding onto the enamel layer while also being extremely effective in clearing off plaque. Just be careful to not ingest it as it can cause some health issues if ingested in large quantities. That is why it is not recommended for children also. If you are facing some specific teeth or gum issue, you can look for a toothpaste which targets that particular issue. There is a wide variety of different toothpaste available nowadays which targets a host of mouth issue such as sensitivity, tartar, gingivitis, stained teeth, etc.
11. Use an appropriate amount of toothpaste
Most people do not worry about the quantity of paste and just load up as much as they can onto their brushes.
This practice is not correct as you are just wasting paste this way and it is actually less effective than if you use the appropriate amount. Just use about a pea’s worth of toothpaste.
You can even take half of the required amount of the paste at once and brush the upper teeth first, then take the remaining half and brush the bottom half thoroughly.
Always follow proper procedures all the while too. Divide your teeth into sections and brush them in a methodical and diligent manner, do not be in a hurry.