Brushing your teeth is so important, but doing it right is critical. In order to brush your teeth the right way you will have to take at least two minutes and maybe more. Surprisingly, many adults don’t even get close to the adequate time that correct brushing requires. It don’t hurt to have a timer of sorts until you grow used to the time needed to brush properly.
When you are brushing your teeth go ahead with short, gentle strokes, and make sure you do not ignore the gum line. Hard to reach areas lie the back teeth are also important as are the areas around fillings, crowns and the like. You will need to concentrate on each of the following areas:
- Clean outer surfaces well both upper and lower.
- Move to the inner surfaces of your teeth upper then lower
- Brush your tongue
Make sure you have tilted your toothbrush at a 45° angle. Again, brushing the gum line is important. You will want to come against it with the toothbrush rolling it away in a sweeping motion over and over again. Use back and forth strokes, and don’t skip tongue brushing!
It is said that a soft bristled toothbrush is the best to remove plaque without damaging teeth. What many may not know is that small heads are also preferred so that you can get into tight spaces better. Powered toothbrushes are excellent for thorough cleaning.
The toothpaste that you use is very important to your oral health. There are a lot of options. So knowing what toothpaste is best for your b=dental needs can be overwhelming. You can check with your dentist, or go with a brand like Crest or Colgate that has been around a long time and is trusted by consumers. Make sure that the toothpaste you choose is ADA approved. There are organic and natural toothpastes available through major brands as well.
Be sure that you replace your toothbrush as soon as the first signs of wear and tear present themselves. Every three months is the longest you should ever use one toothbrush. At the end of three months your toothbrush should be replaces regardless of whether or not it looks worn.
Flossing is a huge part of good oral care, and it goes hand in hand with proper brushing to remove food and plaque. Flossing should be done on a daily basis.
When flossing you will need 18 inches of your preferred floss brand. Wind it around your middle fingers on each hand, and leave enough that you can work with while maintaining control over its placement. Slide the floss gently up and down between each tooth while curving it around the base of the teeth. Don’t force it, and use clean floss sections for tooth to tooth cleaning. Whether you use the nylon or PTFE floss is up to you, but PTFE is in most cases the best choice. Either way, with good oral hygiene comes brushing and flossing regularly and properly, so let your smile shine by knowing what to do.
