How to Brush Your Teeth Properly

You must brush your teeth two or three times a day and after eating certain foods like sticky chocolates. Your dentist or hygienist may have given you tips over the years, but did you ever consider whether you’re brushing your teeth correctly? It’s a simple task, of course, but poor technique could lead to unclean and bacteria-covered teeth that are prone to staining and cavities. Before you brush your teeth, take a rest to read our tips and learn how to brush your teeth properly. Your oral health and smile will thank you!

Let’s Start here

Make sure you are using the right toothbrush. Get a middle size, medium bristle hardness toothbrush. Too stiff bristles will hurt your gums and too soft bristles won’t be cleaning away the food particles, staining and plaque.

Use a 45° angle and swipe the brush from gums to teeth. Brushing away from the gum line, tilt your brush to a 45° angle and begin brushing. This angle is softer on teeth and gums than a more direct, 90° angle. Clean every surface at least 10 times.

Brush Every Tooth Thoroughly. Pay attention to hard-to-reach areas. Brush all surfaces of each tooth. In addition, To ensure that you’re spending time brushing your teeth. Clean all surfaces at least 10 times. This will prevent the buildup of dental plaque.

Be Gentle. Pressing the tooth brush too much on the tooth will cause gum recession, so brush gently. If your toothbrush’s bristles become very quickly distorted and damaged, you must be brushing too hard. Your dentist will also show you to brush properly if they see that your gums are red and sore. If you want, you may try using an electric toothbrush which has sensors that show excessive pressure and stops in case of gum damage.

Brush for Three Minutes. 3 minutes is a very very long time, but it takes this to ensure your teeth are clean. You may play a song with your phone and brush until it stops. An average song is like 3 minutes. Videos will probably help more. Now that you know what it feels like to brush for three minutes.

Brush Your Tongue. There are special brushes for the tongue. Some tooth brushes also have specially designed areas for the tongue. Couple of movements will remove all bacteria and keep your breath smelling fresh.

Replace your Toothbrush. You must replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or when you notice that the bristles are damaged. A worn toothbrush can’t clean and will cause gum disease and decay.

Let's Look at What We Do Wrong When Brushing:

Picking the Wrong Brush. The bristles must be soft to medium hardness, and the size and shape of the head must fit your mouth. It is very important if you have a relatively small mouth. The head must be small enough to reach the very end of the molar tooth, but must be big enough to clean. Trying different ones, you will find out what is best for you. The grip of the brush must be non-slip and easy to handle.

Brushing Too Hard. Brushing too hard will wear the teeth, and cause abrasions on the enamel surface. Brushing must be more like massage instead of scrubbing. Constant pressure will also end up with gum recession and sensitiveness.

Using Too Much Toothpaste. Toothpaste gives us freshness and ease to clean the debris, but too much will harm your gums and cause allergic reactions. Too many bubbles will also make it difficult to brush. A pea size paste will serve you well.

Brushing the Same Pattern Every Time. If you start from the same tooth every time, you are probably cleaning one area well, but missing some areas as well. To prevent this, you must change the pattern of brushing, you may start from lower instead of upper or so.

Not Using Floss. Flossing will clean interproximal surfaces and prevent caries and gingivitis. It takes 1 minute to floss after brushing. You may use dental floss once a day, right before you brush and go to bed.

Good oral hygiene is the key to a healthy life and a confident smile. Brushing 2 times, 3 minutes a day keeps a lot of trouble away. Let’s brush.