Brushing your teeth twice a day doesn’t just keep your breath fresh, it also reduces your risk for tooth decay, gum disease and a host of other health issues. Here are some guidelines for proper brushing.
HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH A MANUAL TOOTHBRUSH
Dentists recommend brushing twice a day with fluoridated tooth paste and a soft-bristled toothbrush, either before or after flossing. Properly cleaning your teeth requires the right technique, which includes:
Holding your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
Moving the brush in a circular or up and down motion over your gums and teeth. Don’t apply too much pressure as you might damage your enamel and gum tissue if you do so.
Spend two minutes in total brushing, making sure to spend equal time cleaning the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
The best brush isn’t the manual type you’ve been using your whole life. Instead, you should be using
an electric toothbrush. Here’s why:
They clean your teeth with less work. With anelectric toothbrush, you don’t have to do anything except move it from tooth to tooth. No more worrying about the angle of the bristles or the pressure you’re exerting on your teeth.
You’ll brush for longer. Most people don’t brush for the dentist recommended time of two minutes. Many electric toothbrushes come with a timer that tells you when the two minutes is up.
They remove more plaque. Electric toothbrushing removes more plaque than manual brushing.
HOW TO USE AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Using an electric toothbrush is relatively straightforward, but it does take some getting used to. Here’s what to do:
Make sure the toothbrush is charged.
Apply a pea-sized amount of fluoridatedtoothpaste to the brush head.
Turn on the brush and move it from tooth totooth. Brush all the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth as well as the chewing surfaces.
When the timer tells you the two minutes areup, spit out your toothpaste and rinse both your mouth and your brush head.
TRUSTED NORTH EDMONTON DENTISTS
No matter how well you brush your teeth, regular dental cleanings and checkups should be an important part of your overall dental care plan. Call Northtown Dental Associates today to book an appointment or to learn more about how to take care of your teeth.