How to brush your teeth properly
Overheard at a dentist’s:
After thirty years of existence on earth and twenty-eight years handling the toothbrush, they tell me I have been brushing the wrong way!
You may feel the same way after reading this post. Have we been brushing the wrong way all our lives? How different can the correct way of brushing be from the way we brush? Very different, if you ask your dentist.
In this post, we will look at how you should brush your teeth.
Which toothbrush and toothpaste should you use?
- Toothbrush: Invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush. It does not matter whether you are six or sixty; use a soft brush. Try to use a toothbrush with a small head; it helps you clean deep inside your mouth.
Change your toothbrush every three months. If it is not yet three months but the bristles look tattered, change your toothbrush immediately. Wayzata advises that you change your toothbrush if you have had cold; you may catch the infection again if you are not careful. - Toothpaste: Prefer fluoride-based toothpaste over non-fluoride toothpaste. If your drinking water has fluoride in it, you do not need fluoride toothpaste.
How should you brush your teeth?
- Hold the brush at 45 degrees angle from your teeth surface.
- Brush the front teeth with upward and downward motions.
- Apply short strokes to brush your teeth. At one time, brush only one tooth; keep the stroke aligned to one tooth at a time.
- Brush both sides of your front and side teeth.
- The molars or the last teeth in the two sides on both the upper and lower teeth sets have three exposed sides. Brush the front, back, and top of the molars.
- Be gentle when brushing; do not be too harsh on the teeth.
- Gently brush along the gum line to prevent any plaque formation.
- Floss the places that the toothbrush cannot reach like the gaps between your teeth.
How long should you brush your teeth?
A fun advice available on the internet suggests that you should play your favourite song while you brush; this will make sure that you brush for at least 2-3 minutes, the minimum recommended duration.
Happy smiling!
