Brushing your teeth can seem like the easiest task of the day, but did you know there’s an ideal technique to it? Are you following the routine dentists suggest to achieve the best smile? Go through the following steps to find out if you’ve been brushing your teeth the right way or not.
What Is The Importance Of Brushing Your Teeth?
To some, brushing their teeth might sound like a chore. However, brushing your teeth allows you to maintain your oral hygiene. If you brush your teeth the right way, you can reduce plaque accumulation and, eventually, cavities. Nobody wants to experience painful tooth decay or even an infection, right? Hence, removing bacteria from your mouth through regular brushing is the right way to prevent such problems. Implementing the correct oral care technique makes your teeth look fresh and healthy.
How To Brush Your Teeth?
Here is the correct order of the oral care technique:
Mouthwash:
A common misconception is to use mouthwash at the end, but dentists have proven that using it at the beginning is more beneficial. Overnight, a lot of bacteria builds up in your mouth, so rinsing the bacteria out first thing in the morning would be the better option. Using a mouthwash reduces the acidity in your mouth and reaches hard-to-clean areas too.
Flossing:
Flossing aids in removing any food particles that are stuck in between your teeth. Usually, your toothbrush can’t reach the areas between your teeth, which is why flossing is recommended.
Brushing:
- Begin brushing the front part of your upper and lower teeth in a circular motion. Try not to rush; otherwise, you might miss out on a few spots here and there.
- The gum line is one of the places where food particles easily get trapped. Use the toothbrush at a tilted angle of 45 degrees and gently move it back and forth against your gum line.
- Don’t forget the inner surface of your teeth. It’s tempting to neglect this area because it’s not visible, but it’s essential to clean them the same way as the outer parts.
- Another place where food particles can get trapped is on the top part of your back teeth. Gently brush the top surface with back and forth strokes to get rid of any food debris.
Tongue:
If you’re wondering why your breath still stinks even after brushing your teeth, it’s a sign that you’ve forgotten to clean your tongue. The bacteria that causes bad breath tends to build up on your tongue, so don’t forget to scrape your tongue using the back of your toothbrush gently.
Routine
You must brush your teeth twice a day, before bed and after waking up. In addition to that, make sure to floss your teeth once a day. Don’t miss out on a crucial step of brushing, which is to keep brushing your teeth for at least two minutes. You can try dividing your set of teeth into four parts and spend 30 seconds on each one. You can even build up this habit by placing a stopwatch as a guide nearby.
On top of that, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head so that it can easily reach all the areas of your mouth. Do remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months because worn-out toothbrush bristles can’t clean your teeth efficiently. Briar Forest Dental Group is here to help you out; call us at 713-784-4430 for more information.