How to Brush your Teeth

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been brushing your teeth for many years. The question is, have you been brushing them the right way? Below, you’ll find some of the most important pointers for keeping your pearly whites healthy and looking good for the long term.

1. Take your time

Brushing your teeth should take at least two full minutes. This might not seem like a very long time, but, when you’re brushing, it will likely feel quite long. The best way to make sure you are brushing for long enough is to set a timer on your phone or listen to about half of an average-length song.

2. Use the right brush

Not all toothbrushes are created equally. The best choice in brush is a round-headed electric brush. If electric brushes aren’t for you, we recommend using a manual brush with soft bristles and a small head. The soft bristles are plenty strong enough to remove debris and plaque from your teeth without causing too much wear and tear on your enamel and the small head allows you to better clean hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

3. Brush everywhere

We tend to brush our teeth where it shows. So, the fronts of our teeth often receive the bulk of our attention. In addition to brushing the fronts of our top and back teeth, however, it is also important to brush the inner surfaces of the teeth, the chewing surfaces, and the tongue. Brushing thoroughly can keep your teeth healthy and, as an added perk, your breath smelling minty fresh.

4. Use the right technique

Although it may make you feel that you’ve cleaned your teeth well, there is no need to furiously saw away at your teeth. Instead, the best approach is to tilt your brush at a 45-degree angle from the gumline and gently roll the brush away from the gumline. Then, gently brush every surface of each tooth using short back-and-forth strokes and, finally, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

We hope these toothbrushing tips will help you to keep your smile healthy and bright. In addition to brushing your teeth properly, it is important to visit your dentist for regular checkups. We’re looking forward to seeing you in our office soon!