You neither eat tobacco nor you smoke. Acidic foods are miles away from you. You eat a lot of calcium. Then what is the reason behind these unhealthy teeth? The reason is actually the wrong technique of brushing the teeth. If you do not brush your teeth properly, you will not only have stained teeth, but also dental problems like cavities, gum disease, and plaque. Most people avoid smiling because they feel their teeth are stained. Don’t worry, this article will bring your smile and confidence back by suggesting you some best techniques to brush your teeth.
Best Techniques to Brush Your Teeth:
Contents
1.) Toothbrush to Brush Your Teeth:
At every moment of life, you have to take a decision. But some decisions should be taken after a good research. One such decision of life is choosing a toothbrush. This is very important for the good health of your pearly white. Here are some basic points that you should keep in mind while buying a toothbrush. The next time when you will go to a drug store instead of buying a simple toothbrush you will be well aware that which kind of toothbrush is right for you.
Points to Remember While Buying a Toothbrush:
- You should choose a toothbrush with softer nylon bristles. The reason behind this is soft bristles are a good choice to remove the plaque and debris from the teeth. Hard bristles can damage your enamel and make your gums bleed.
- Another important thing that you should keep in mind is the size of the toothbrush. The head of the toothbrush should be small as it can easily reach to every corner of the mouth. Bristles having a rounded tip are better to select as they give protection to your teeth and gums.
- It is very important to replace your toothbrush after every 3 months or if it begins to show wear. If you are having a cold, then when you get well you should replace the toothbrush. The reason behind this is that your toothbrush could carry germs which may lead to infection.
2.) Toothpaste to Brush Your Teeth:
If you choose a right toothpaste you are saving yourself from a lot of teeth problems such as gum pain, cavities, debacle and yellow teeth. Here are some tips to choose a toothpaste according to your requirements.
- Toothpaste for Stained Teeth: Most of the people hesitate in smiling because of their yellow teeth. A toothpaste containing silicon abrasives is a good choice for yellow teeth. These abrasives polish the teeth and prevent the buildup of stains.
- Toothpaste to Prevent Cavities: Plague is a sticky film of bacteria that interacts with food to produce acids that eat up the enamel which results in tiny holes. Fluoride toothpaste is a good choice to prevent cavities. It protects the teeth from the acids by coating them.
- Toothpaste for Sensitive Gums: A toothpaste containing a desensitizing ingredient such as potassium nitrate or strontium chloride is a good choice for sensitive gums.
- Toothpaste to Prevent Tartar Buildup: The bacterial plaque that has hardened is known as tartar or calculus. If you want to fight tartar look for a toothpaste that contains ingredients like zinc citrate.
3.) Dental Floss for Healthy Teeth:
Flossing your teeth from time to time is very necessary as it removes the food particles and plaque from those places of the teeth where your toothbrush is unable to reach. If you are not flossing your teeth the plague will build up which can even lead to tooth decay.
Choosing a Floss:
- Nylon Floss: It is available in a variety of flavors, but due to its nylon strands it can tear or shred especially in the tight places of the teeth.
- PTEE Floss: Though this is expensive, but it can slide easily between the tight spaces of the teeth. It is a virtually shred-resistant and is a good choice to remove debris from the teeth.
Technique for Flossing:
- Wind an 18-inch floss on your middle finger. Leave only 2 inches of floss to work on the teeth.
- Use your thumb and index finger to hold the floss. Gently slide it up and down between your teeth.
- At the base of every tooth curve the floss to ensure that you go beneath the gum line.
- Use the clean section of floss for every tooth.
4.) Right Techniques to Brush Your Teeth:
- Apply a small amount of toothpaste onto your brush. If you will take a large amount it will cause over-sudsing due to which you will spit it out and finish early.
- Place the bristles of the brush at an angle of 45 degrees at the gum line. Brush your teeth with a short circular or vertical motion.
- Divide your mouth into different sections such as top right, top left, bottom left and bottom right. Spend at least 30 seconds on brushing each section. This way the total time of your brushing is 2 to 3 minutes.
- Start with brushing the outside lower left teeth and move towards the right side. Once you finish with the lower teeth go to the upper ones.
- Rest the bristles on the top of your bottom molars. Move the bristles from the back of your mouth to the front. After cleaning the bottom molars work on the top molars.
- Move the head of the toothbrush towards the gum line and brush each tooth. Brush the inside of the lower front teeth.
5.) Final Step to Brush Your Teeth:
- Clean your tongue with the bristles of the toothbrush to get rid of bad breath and bacteria.
- Take a sip of water and swish it around your mouth and spit it out.
- You can use a fluoride mouthwash to increase the effectiveness.
- Brush your teeth twice a day at an angle of 45 degrees. This ensures that the food particles and bacteria is removed more effectively.
Points to Remember While Brushing Your Teeth:
- 30 seconds or 1 minute is not just enough to brush the teeth. According to American Dental Association, you should spend 2 to 3 minutes to brush your teeth. For this either you can use an electric brush or use a stopwatch.
- Some people think the harder they brush the more their teeth will get clean. But let me tell you this is a wrong notion. In fact, applying too much pressure can harm your teeth. The idea of brushing is to remove the plaque and not the gum tissue. Brushing too hard can make your teeth sensitive to hot or cold.
- While brushing remember to hold your toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees. It will make it easy for you to remove the plaque and bacteria. In fact, the bristles will reach the every crook and cranny of your teeth.
- Never use a toothbrush that has firm or medium bristles. This will damage your teeth by abrading the gum.
- Use a toothbrush that is comfortable. A toothbrush with a big head is for sure not comfortable. It will not be able to reach every corner.
- Change your toothbrush after every 3 months. Once the bristles become curved and soft they are of no use.
- A toothbrush is not able to reach between the tight spaces of the teeth. This why regular floss is necessary as it removes the plaque and food particles that are stuck between the tight spaces in the teeth.
- Go regularly for a dental checkup and brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Tips for a Good Dental Hygiene:
- Along with proper brushing do flossing.
- Avoid smoking and eating tobacco.
- Consume plenty of calcium and vitamins.
- Use a mouthwash to maintain the good health of the teeth.
- Don’t avoid a toothache or other dental symptoms.
- Clean your tongue to freshen up your breath.
- Avoid eating acidic foods.
- Select the dental products wisely.
- Gulp down a lot of water.
- A visit to your dentist every month.
