You’ve probably heard it ever since you were a kid: brush your teeth everyday so that they can remain strong and healthy. However, it’s not as simple as picking up any toothbrush from your local supermarket, going home, and scrubbing away at your teeth for a few seconds.
To be able to brush your teeth properly, there are some things that you need to keep in mind, such as:
Using the right toothbrush
Not all toothbrushes are created the same. Some toothbrushes are of better quality than others, and believe it or not, both the material and the structure of the toothbrush matter when it comes to cleaning your teeth. Soft bristles with rounded ends and a rounded head toothbrush is generally the best type, because it cleans without damaging your teeth or gum tissue, and it can get into the small crevices of your mouth.
Replacing your toothbrush regularly
Whether it’s because of convenience or sentiment, a lot of people don’t take the time to change their toothbrush regularly. A used toothbrush does not clean as well as a new one. The American Dental Association recommends that you change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, both for practical and sanitary reasons.
Use the Proper Strokes
Even the motion of brushing is something that you should take into consideration. Proper brushing technique is a combination of up and down, side to side, and various movements of the toothbrush in your mouth. Basically, you need to hit every spot in your mouth to make sure that you get every surface you need to reach.
Time and Touch
You need to brush for at least 2 minutes; and when you brush, you should brush just hard enough to get the job done, but not so hard that you draw blood from your gums.
If you really want to learn how to brush your teeth properly, talk to your Den-Care Smile Center dentist so that he or she can demonstrate proper brushing techniques.
