Do You Know The Correct Way To Brush Your Teeth?

Valerie
Registered Dental Hygienist
Family Dentist Tree It is no persons favorite thing to hear they are not brushing good enough at their dental check-up. Hearing that you have a cavity is even worse! We asked our hygienist, Valerie to give us some tips to avoid spending more time than you bargained for at the dentist.

1. Use the right size tooth brush. Children and adults with small mouths should use a smaller brush head. A toothbrush that is too big may not be able to reach all of the tooth surfaces in your mouth.
2. We recommend soft or extra soft toothbrushes. Bristles that are too stiff can aggravate your gums.
3. We recommend that everyone uses fluoridated toothpaste, but if you need help choosing the toothpaste that is right for you, ask your hygienist or visit our previous post about what the best toothpaste may be for you.
4. Softly brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time is recommended. Believe it or not, brushing too hard or too often can weaken your tooth enamel and cause damage to your gum tissue. Most people do not brush for more than 30 seconds. Brushing for two full minutes ensures that you have time to brush and adequately reach all tooth surfaces.
5. Brush all tooth surfaces and along the gum line. Do not forget about those hard to reach places, such as your back molars. Use a circular or up and down motion at a 45 degree angle; brushing from side-to-side as most of us do can cause scrapes and scratches on our gum line.

Toothbrushes come in all shapes, sized, and textures. Choose the one that feels most comfortable in your mouth.