June 10, 2016
No matter how often you go to the dentist, we can't changewhat happens at home. Many timespoorat homeoralhygiene is the cause of oral pain and problems. Only you can createpositive at-homeoral routines that prevent teeth decay and much more. That being said, we have the best patients in the world. Theylisten to us when we stress how paramount regular teeth brushing is. Because we harp onthis basic yet profound truthALL THE TIME. And with a little bit of education and encouragement anyone can transform their oral health for the better. Start with consistent, positive oral hygiene habits and you're setting yourself up for an award winning smile.
How Often to Brush your teeth
You should attempt to brush your teeth twice a day - in the morning and before bed. Ideally after you eat you should brush too, but we will start with the minimum which is twice a day.What Toothbrushto Use
Not just any toothbrush is sufficient. The ideal toothbrush is small in size with soft, rounded-end bristles.You want the bristles to be soft enough to protect the gums while brushing. Believe it or not, brushing too hard can cause your gums to recede and that's bad news for the stability of your teeth.
You should never use the same toothbrush for morethan three months. They can harbor bacteria over time that you don't want to brush back on to your teeth. Make sure the head of the brush is small enough to reach all the areas in your mouth. Yep, you must reach that small part on the back of your farthest molar!
The American Dental Association (ADA) highly recommends electric tooth brushes. Toothbrushes with rotating or oscillating heads are more effective than regular toothbrushes.
Here is a basic guide to proper brushing:
- Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
- Use small circular motions to gently brush the gumline and teeth.
- Do not scrub or apply too much pressure to the teeth, as this can damage the gums and tooth enamel.
- Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Place special emphasis on the surfaces of the back teeth.
- Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces.
- Brush the tongue to remove fungi, food and debris.