While brushing your teeth might be second nature to you by now, having done it for many years, you can get into bad habits. Not brushing for long enough, brushing too hard, using the wrong technique or the wrong type of brush can all lead to oral health issues.
This post is a detailed “back to basics” guide showing you precisely how to brush your teeth and what to avoid. Read on to find out more.
Step 1: Grab Your Toothbrush And Toothpaste
First, you’ll need to grab your materials: a toothbrush and toothpaste. Today, most dentists recommend that you choose an electric, oscillating brush as these tend to be able to remove plaque better than the manual variety. Next, take a look at your toothpaste: make sure that it contains sodium fluoride – the critical ingredient that protects teeth from decay. Some new tooth polishing pastes do not include this active ingredient.
Step 2: Start At The Back Of Your Mouth
Start brushing the molars in your upper jaw and then work your way around in a clockwise direction, working from left to right. When cleaning, move the brush in a circular motion, keeping the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth. Spend around 20 seconds on this step.
Step 3: Roll The Bristles Away From The Gum
Next, roll the bristles away from the gum line so that you’re focusing exclusively on the teeth themselves. Work in a clockwise direction as before.
Step 4: Brush Behind Your Upper Front Teeth
Turn the toothbrush on its back and begin moving it back and forth, behind your front teeth, adopting a flicking movement to clean the rear surface.
Step 5: Brush Behind Your Lower Front Teeth
Next, do the same for your lower front teeth. Turn your toothbrush so that the bristles are facing down again and then place it behind the front bottom teeth, adopting a scooping motion away from the gum line to remove any plaque.
Step 6: Brush The Surface Of The Bottom Teeth
The next step is to brush the molars and premolars at the bottom of your mouth. Just as with the upper teeth, you’ll want to brush the molars head-on and then at a 45-degree angle. You’ll also want to spend around 20 seconds brushing the lower gum to get rid of any plaque along the gumline. Use a circular motion while cleaning,
Step 7: Brush Your Tongue And Cheeks
While brushing your teeth is essential, it isn’t the only thing in your mouth that requires regular cleaning: so too do your tongue and cheeks. Both can be a repository for bacteria and food particles. Take your brush and move it in a circular motion over your tongue and the surface of your cheeks. Also, clean the roof of your mouth. You may find that it takes a few brushing sessions to remove all the gunk from your tongue.
Step 8: Rinse
Finally, rinse out your mouth with water or mouthwash.
If you’re worried about your teeth, or you’re experiencing pain, book an appointment to see your dentist today.