How to brush your teeth correctly?
We grow up listening to our parents, teachers, and mainly our dentists emphasize the importance of brushing our teeth twice a day. Dr. Sanz, a board certified periodontist in Southern Delaware explain how having a proper oral health care regime not only helps prevent dental diseases but also helps keep many systemic diseases at bay. Brushing and flossing our teeth every day is vital as it removes the soft debris and bacteria-laden tarter responsible for various oral diseases. However, did you know that many of us actually have faulty brushing techniques that harm our gums and teeth? Brushing too harshly and incorrectly, in the long run, can cause injury to the gums and teeth, which makes them more prone to damage. Read ahead as we at Southern Delaware Dental Specialist elaborate on this topic.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR PROPER TOOTH BRUSHING?
The tools required for a proper oral health care routine are –
- A good quality toothbrush. Using an extremely soft-bristled toothbrush or hard-bristled tooth brushing is a definitive way to damage your gums. You want a toothbrush that is soft but not so soft that it does not do its work. You must also change your toothbrush every three months or before if the bristles get frayed or damaged.
- A fluoridated toothpaste.
- A floss
THE CORRECT TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE
Once you have all the necessary tools for a perfect oral health care routine, it is now time to practice the proper tooth brushing technique. Dr. Sanz at Southern Delaware Dental Specialists has created a step-by-step guide on how to brush your teeth properly.
STEP 1 – Hold your toothbrush and wet it with water. Next, take a pea-sized amount of a fluoridated toothpaste and put it on the toothbrush’s head.
STEP 2 – Hold the toothbrush properly and place the toothbrush bristles in your mouth at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
STEP 3- Start brushing your teeth using a gentle upwards stroke against the gum line to brush the outer surface of upper and lower front teeth. Remember that these strokes should be gentle, short, and upward for lower front teeth and downward for the upper front teeth. This step will cover the front surface of your upper and lower teeth and, at the same time, massages the gums.
STEP 4 – Continue brushing your teeth upper and lower back by using the same motion. Make sure you also cover the top that is the chewing surface of all your back teeth. This step covers the exterior surface of all your teeth.
STEP 5- Next, tilt the toothbrush upside down and reach the inner surface of the lower teeth and brush the inner surface of all the lower teeth using the same method of brushing strokes while maintaining a 45-degree angle. Flip the toothbrush to reach the inner surfaces of your upper teeth.
STEP 6- Brush your tongue to remove the build-up on the tongue for a fresh breath and a healthy mouth. Now rinse, and you are done!
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU BRUSH?
Dr. Sanz at Southern Delaware Dental Specialist says that the ideal duration for brushing your teeth is 3 minutes. Ensure you don’t exceed this time and over brush your teeth as it can lead to teeth damage and even cause injury to the gum, making them recede.
If you have any dental or gum related problems, do not delay visiting us in Southern Delaware. Schedule an appointment with us at Southern Delaware Dental Specialist to consult Dr. Sanz and stay at the top of your health.
