Brushing Your Teeth the Right Way

Brushing your teeth should be an important part of your daily routine. When you clean your teeth, you are keeping your mouth and teeth healthy by preventing disease and decay that are trying to make a home there.

If you haven’t made a habit of brushing your teeth consistently, now is the time to start. And while any brushing is better than none at all, we suggest you do the following things to keep your smile bright and beautiful.

The Right Brush

Start by picking out the best toothbrush for your mouth and teeth. Your toothbrush should have soft bristles that can clean away plaque without damaging your teeth or gums. The head of your toothbrush should also fit in your mouth comfortably all the way to your back molars which can be the most difficult to brush.

Your children’s toothbrushes will be much smaller than yours because their mouths are smaller.

You can also invest in a powered toothbrush if you’d like, but both manual and powered toothbrushes can clean your teeth well when used correctly.

The Right Time

Most dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes, and we recommend this as well. If you’re not sure just how long two minutes is, try setting a timer or listening to a favorite song that fits the time length.

For those with braces or special implants, it may be best to take some extra time to clean your teeth. You may also want to brush after every meal to remove food from tricky spaces, and be sure to floss routinely.

The Right Method

To thoroughly clean your teeth, you should be brushing the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of each tooth. The American Dental Association recommends placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and using short back-and-forth strokes that cover 2-3 teeth at a time. A circular brushing motion can be taught to your children who are just learning to brush their teeth, too, but these should be kept small as well to protect gums.

Keep Brushing

When you are consistent with brushing your teeth well, you keep them healthy and strong throughout your life. You’ll be able to keep enjoying foods you love and sharing your smile with friends and family.