The simple act of brushing your teeth is often taken for granted. Many people assume there isn’t much to brushing your teeth or overlook it when conducting their day-to-day routines. However, the importance of teeth brushing should not be underestimated or overlooked. It is not only important to brush your teeth, but it is crucial that you brush your teeth in the proper way in order to take care of your teeth and avoid damaging them.
Common Toothbrush Mistakes
There are numerous little mistakes many people commit while brushing their teeth that can impact your oral health. First and foremost, you want to have the right toothbrush for the job. That means having a toothbrush with soft bristles and can fit in your mouth comfortably. After three to four mouths, you should consider switching out your toothbrush for a new one or replacing the head of your electric toothbrush. This is due to the bristles wearing out and becoming less effective.
Along with choosing the right toothbrush, you’ll want to choose the right fluoride rinse and toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste can actually be harmful to your teeth as the particles that whiten your teeth can sand away the structure of your tooth if used in excess. Beyond utilizing mouthwash and toothpaste, you’ll want to pick up some floss. Flossing is an important part of your oral health care routine as floss can reach places that your toothbrush can’t; ensuring that all food particles and bacteria are removed.
From there, you need to spend the appropriate amount of time brushing your teeth. Twice a day is the minimum you should be brushing your teeth with three times being ideal. Additionally, you should be brushing your teeth for at least two minutes; 30 seconds for each of the four sections of your mouth. It is important not to brush in excess though as more than this can result in tooth damage. You don’t want to brush too hard as well; you should be using a lighter touch and guiding the toothbrush which lets it do most of the work for you.
Proper Brushing Technique
We’ve already touched briefly on proper technique; which is, brushing for at least two minutes while ensuring that you reach each of the four corners of your mouth. This is in addition to not brushing your teeth too hard and utilizing a soft bristle toothbrush. There is more to brushing your teeth than just that. You should utilize these additional tips to ensure that you are practicing proper brushing technique:
- When brushing your teeth, ensure that your toothbrush is at a 45 degree angle to your gums.
- Use short, tooth-wide strokes and brush back and forth.
- Ensure that you are brushing the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- The inside surfaces of your front tooth can be cleaned by tilting your brush vertically and making up and down strokes.
- Finish brushing your teeth by brushing your tongue in order to remove any bacteria which can be the cause of bad breath
Questions?
The importance of tooth brushing cannot be overstated. At its core, tooth brushing is the first line of defense for your oral health. Many people don’t know the proper way to brush their teeth which can lead to serious problems in their mouths. If you are lax in your tooth brushing it could even lead to the extraction of some of your teeth. Should you have any questions regarding the importance of brushing your teeth or proper brushing technique, please contact us and we will be happy to help you.