The first line of defense for fighting off tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease is knowing how to brush your teeth correctly. Making sure that you are brushing your teeth properly is important because improper brushing can strip teeth of their protective enamel. Many of us believe that brushing harder and back and forth, in a sawlike motion, will clean our teeth faster. The opposite is true. Brushing our teeth quickly and in a back and forth motion will strip the enamel of your teeth, making your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold food. Brushing in this way can also cause the toothbrush to bounce between teeth, instead of cleaning between. Learning how to brush your teeth is vital to maintaining a healthy smile.
Brushing Your Teeth The Right Way
First, you will want to start with the proper tools. A soft bristled brush is the best type of brush to use, if you have any questions about what type of brush to purchase or how to brush your teeth, your dentist at Cedar Creek Dental will be happy to help.
Remember that you need to get a new toothbrush after 3 months. Also, toothbrushes that have become frayed should be thrown out when the begin to fray. A worn out toothbrush doesn’t clean teeth very well.
Once you have equipped yourself with the proper tooth brush and an ADA accepted Fluoride toothpaste, you are ready to begin.
- Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day – Usually done upon waking in the morning and before going to bed for the best results. Spend 30 seconds in each section of the mouth. An easy way to keep track of time is to either keep a clock in your bathroom, set a timer on your phone, or even brush your teeth for the length of a song on the radio.
- Position is Important – For each part of the mouth to be cleaned properly, the tooth brush needs to be held in different angles.
Brushing Your Teeth
- Place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and start by cleaning the inner and outer surfaces first. Make sure that your toothbrush is able to reach all the way to the back teeth. Gently move the toothbrush back and forth, but only the width of a tooth.
- Next, while holding the toothbrush flat, you will want to cover any surface area that is used for chewing.
- Using gentle up and down strokes, tilt the brush vertically to clean the inside surfaces of the teeth. This works especially well on the insides of the front teeth.
- Don’t forget to gently brush the gumline in circular motion!
- Your tongue can hold onto odor causing bacteria, so you will want to keep it clean. To clean your tongue properly use a back to front sweeping motion with your toothbrush.
This guide for how to brush your teeth can be used for children also. The only difference is that you may need to assist them, especially with the inside and back teeth. Be sure to use a very small amount of toothpaste for children, about the size of a pea.
It may feel strange at first brushing your teeth this way if you’re not used to it. If you continue to follow this routine for two minutes twice daily, it will become very natural. If you have any questions about your dental health, don’t hesitate to contact Cedar Creek Dental. Learning how to brush your teeth properly, flossing and having a healthy diet is your ticket to maintaining a healthy smile for life. Don’t forget, it is essential to schedule a dental checkup 2 times per year for exams and cleanings to check for cavities!
