Do You Brush Your Teeth the Right Way?
|May 13, 2016
If you brush your teeth twice a day, but are still getting a bad report card at the dentist, it could have something to do with the way you brush your teeth.
Your La Jolla Dentist explains that there is a proper way to brush your teeth, and if you aren’t brushing the correct way, you could be setting yourself up for a lifetime of tooth decay and gum disease.
Most people learned how to brush as a child, brushing twice or more every day making brushing time very important, however, how do you know that you aren’t making mistakes when you brush your teeth? Floss Dental explains that improper brushing techniques are more common than you think.
The Wrong Brush
According to the American Dental Association, some people still insist on using both medium and hard bristled toothbrushes. Soft bristles are much better at removing soft plaque. If your plaque has turned to tartar, no amount of brushing with a hard bristled toothbrush will get rid of the tartar. Trying to remove it with a medium or hard bristled toothbrush can damage your gums.
Replace the Brush
You need to replace your toothbrush once every three or four months. Floss Dental in La Jolla will tell you that most people go far beyond that point with bristles being flattened and splayed out preventing a proper cleaning. The same thing goes for power brushes, which can lose cleaning power if the brush is older than four months.
Brushing Techniques
Brushing back in forth won’t get the job done. Your La Jolla Dentist recommends that you brush in a circular motion. Angle your bristles so that they are at a 45-degree angle towards the gumline. Remember to brush two teeth at the same time as this will enable you to clean under your gums as well as most of your plaque is just below your gumline.
Make sure that you brush systematically. Most people do not follow a set order moving around the mouth as they brush. If you brush this way, you could be missing teeth. Brush all surfaces of one quadrant a time to make sure that you do not miss anything.
Brushing too hard
You do not need to use force when you brush your teeth. The food particles and bacteria on your teeth are soft after you eat so gentle brushing will do the trick. If you use a power or electric toothbrush, do not use heavy pressure as it can have a negative affect even causing gum recession.
Other brushing problems that people may have include using too much toothpaste; a pea-sized amount is plenty, and not brushing long enough. Floss Dental recommends that you brush for two minutes to make sure that you have thoroughly cleaned your teeth.
If you would like more information regarding healthy oral hygiene habits, call or click and schedule an appointment with your La Jolla Dentist today.