It is something most of us do every day. But most of us are doing it wrong. Few of us realize that there is actually a science to brushing your teeth in order to get the most oral health benefits from your efforts.
If you follow these five guidelines, you will increase your chances of passing your next oral check-up with high marks.
#1: Do it longer.
It’s the end of the day. You’re tired. You just want to jump into bed and get some rest. So, you put some quick effort into brushing your teeth. That is understandable. But we all know that it’s probably not the best way to care for your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth for two minutes.1 To make it easy, replace your bathroom clock with a clock that has a second hand so you can actually time yourself when brushing. Another easy idea is to use the stop watch feature on your cellular phone. If you like listening to music, brushing your teeth for the length of an average song, which is about 2 to 3 minutes, will have you brushing for even longer than recommended.
#2: Do it twice a day.
Most of us brush our teeth each morning before we face the world. The American Dental Association (ASA) recommends, however, that we brush twice a day.2 In an article for WebMD entitled Tooth-brushing Mistakes You Make and How to Fix Them author John Donovan quotes Matt Messina, a dentist from Fairview Park, Ohio, who recommends making at least one of those times “exceptional” by not only brushing, but also flossing and using mouthwash or a dental rinse.3
#3: Do it with precision.
For most of us, the easy to reach places are the targets we hit with our toothbrushes. But it is the hard to reach places where we really need to focus. Bacteria hide in those hard to reach places. They attach to the gum line and between teeth. Don’t just go back and forth brushing the flat surfaces of your teeth. Make sure to brush the gum line by angling your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line. If you aren’t a mathematician, think of it as putting your toothbrush in your hand and then using the same motion you would use to engage the turn signal in your car, moving your wrist from an upright position when you brush across the surface of your teeth to a downward movement of your wrist when you are cleaning the gum line. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the gum line, go for the rest of the tooth, with strokes that roll up and down. Again, ditch the back and forth motion that most of us have traditionally used in favor of a rolling up and down motion. Don’t forget the inside of your front teeth, the backside of your back teeth, and the tongue-side of your teeth. Create a sequence for brushing your teeth and stick to it until it becomes habit.
The Colgate Oral Care Center recommends the following four steps:
1. Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth.
2. Then clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth.
3. Then clean the chewing surfaces.
4. Finally, for fresher breath, brush your tongue.4
Remember, you only need to exert gentle pressure on your gums and tooth surfaces. Plaque is soft and loose, so you don’t have to scrub. You will be more effective if you think of it more as massaging your teeth and gums, rather than brushing.
#4: Do it with the right tools.
First, your toothpaste should bear the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. All toothpastes with the ADA seal must contain fluoride and can’t contain flavoring agents, such as sugar, that cause or contribute to tooth decay.5 When a product earns the seal you can be assured that the manufacturer has provided scientific evidence that their product is safe and effective and that the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has evaluated the product according to its objective requirements.
Your toothbrush is also important. Colgate has 32 products in its toothbrush category online. So how do you pick the one that is right for you? First, you should select a soft-bristled brush because having flexible bristles allows you to clean the gum line and between the teeth better. In fact, hard bristles can actually wear down your teeth. If you have a smaller mouth, buy a toothbrush with a smaller head. Again, look for the American Dental Association seal on your new toothbrush to ensure it has passed their scientific evaluation. Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush regularly. Experts recommend toothbrush replacement every three to four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
#5: Do it at the right time.
Most of us brush our teeth after breakfast and before bed. But are those really the best times to brush our teeth? The answer depends on what you just ate. If you ate an acidic food or drank an acidic beverage, avoid brushing your teeth right away, as acids weaken tooth enamel and brushing too soon after eating acidic foods can remove tooth enamel.6 It is recommended that you wait 15 or 20 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth as that is long enough for saliva to remove the acid in your mouth.7 If you have to brush your teeth sooner, rinse with water to remove some of the acid prior to brushing. The bottom line is, brushing twice a day for two minutes each session 20 minutes after eating, whenever it is done, is more beneficial than not brushing at all or brushing only once a day.
Sedki Dentistry, Commerce MI is a complete family dental clinic that offers services for all dental health concerns. Regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings are highly recommended and routine for good dental health. Our goal is to work with our patients in achieving and maintaining long term dental health and a beautiful smile. . Call Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp today and schedule a checkup!
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1,2 Brushing Your Teeth, Mouth Healthy, American Dental Association
Link: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth
3, 7 Toothbrushing Mistakes You Make and How to Fix Them, John Donovan, WebMD
Link: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/brushing-teeth-mistakes#1
4 How to Brush, Colgate Oral Care Center
Link: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/how-to-brush
5 Oral Health Topics, Toothpaste: Key Points, American Dental Association
Link: https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothpastes
6 When and how often should you brush your teeth? Thomas J. Salinas, DDS, Mayo Clinic, Healthy Lifestyles, Adult Health
Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/brushing-your-teeth/faq-20058193