Healthy Tooth Brushing Techniques
Last updated Wednesday, August 16th, 2023
You know that eating is essential to nourish your body. But eating without cleaning your teeth means you’re nourishing disease. That’s right! Every time you eat, there are tiny bits of food particles that stick to your teeth that lead to a buildup of bacteria. And if you don’t get rid of them, your next meal is simply helping this bacteria colony multiply and infect your teeth.
There’s a reason why brushing your teeth daily is such a vital part of your daily routine. All it takes to keep your dental health safe is to brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, twice a day.
Move your brush around thoroughly to cover all the surfaces of your teeth that are hard to reach. Your tongue can also turn into a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure you brush it or clean it with a tongue cleaner to remove any white film. Sounds quite straightforward. However, most people still don’t brush their teeth in the right way.
There are different ways to brush your teeth, and using the wrong technique can compromise your dental health. So how are we supposed to brush our teeth then?
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What is the Modified Bass Brushing Technique?
This simple and highly effective technique involves brushing at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. Try to brush each tooth or two to three teeth at a time with a gentle circular movement.
Change the angles to reach the inner, outer, and top surfaces of each tooth.
Once you’ve thoroughly brushed each tooth, flick the toothbrush down the tooth and away from the gum line. It’s easy to miss your molars since they’re located at the back and often get neglected.
Now use the same circular motions to brush your tongue.
How to Choose the Right Toothbrush?
It’s important to pick out the right toothbrush because the wrong one can be damaging to your gums. We generally recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head.
Your gums are much more delicate than the enamel on your teeth. So using a hard-bristled brush can easily damage them and weaken the roots of your teeth.
Once your gums start receding, you may also face increased sensitivity to cold or heat. Using a hard-bristled brush with forceful strokes can even wear out the enamel in the long run.
Brushes with small heads have an easier time getting into hard-to-reach places, like your molars. Ensure the shape of the brush head and handle are comfortable for you to use.
Usually, the bristle pattern in your tooth brush doesn’t play a big role in cleaning your teeth. But you can still consult your dentist to see if you need a brush with a certain pattern of bristles.
Electric toothbrushes are great alternatives to manual toothbrushes. Their vibration is often effective enough to remove plaque. Plus, you can even use a built-in timer so that you know you’ve brushed sufficiently.
Buy toothbrushes and toothpastes with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance on their packages. It means the product has cleared the necessary safety and efficacy standards.
Buy a new toothbrush every 3 months or whenever its bristles start wearing out. Continuing to use brushes with damaged bristles can hurt your gums.
If you want to know more about the right brushing techniques and what products to use, give us a call. Our team will be happy to give you the right recommendations to keep your glowing smile!
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