Dental Care Proper Brushing

Proper brushing is an essential part of daily oral hygiene which lays the groundwork for a healthy smile. Brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, which left unchecked, could develop into unhealthy tartar.

The first step in proper brushing is to choose a toothbrush. A toothbrush head should be small for easy access. It should have a long, wide handle for a firm grasp, and it should have soft, nylon bristles with round ends. Medium and hard toothbrush bristles are not recommended.

Now that you have selected the perfect brush, what’s the proper way to use it? These are recommendations by the American Dental Hygienist’s Association.

1. Place bristles along the gum line at a 45-degree angle. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gum line, since that is where most plaque settles.
2. Gently brush the outer tooth surfaces of 2-3 teeth using a vibrating circular rolling motion. Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat.
3. Maintain a 45-degree angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gum line. Gently brush using an up and down and rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces and gum line.
4. Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Make several up and down strokes using the front half of the brush.
5. Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back and forth scrubbing motion.

Press just firmly enough to reach the spaces between the teeth as well as the surface. It has taken nearly 75 years for dentists to recognize the damage caused by many years of aggressive, hard tooth brushing. Toothbrush abrasion commonly results in substantial erosion of the gum tissue and deep grooves in the teeth.

You have the perfect brush; you know the proper technique, now how long should you brush? Dentists recommend brushing three to four minutes. Most people, however, spend less than one minute brushing. To make sure you’re doing a thorough job, you might consider brushing with the radio on, measuring your brushing time to the length of an average song. You could also use an egg timer.

There are also electronic brushes on the market that do the work for you. Most of them have built in timers that shut the unit off after the required brushing time, usually two minutes. Some also make a beeping sound when it’s time to change quadrants.

Most Americans don’t brush during the workday, but getting the debris off teeth right away stops sugary snacks from turning to damaging acids. Dentists say that keeping a toothbrush in your desk increases the chances that you’ll brush during the day by 65%. If you brush with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and before going to bed, you don’t even need to use toothpaste at work. You can just brush and rinse before heading back to the desk. If you don’t have a toothbrush, rinsing your mouth with water for 30 seconds after lunch also helps.

If you are the type who doesn’t brush before bed, you might want to consider that mutans streptococci, the bacteria involved in causing tooth decay multiply 30 times overnight if you haven’t brushed your teeth before going to bed.

Treat yourself to a new toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become worn or frayed. Researchers have established that thousands of microbes grow on toothbrush bristles and handles. Most are harmless, but others can cause cold and flu viruses, including the herpes virus that causes cold sores and bacteria that can cause periodontal infections such as gingivitis.

Remember, don’t share your toothbrush with others, it can spread germs.

You are now armed with the knowledge of how to select a toothbrush, when to replace it, and the correct brushing technique. A daily routine of brushing and flossing, in addition to regular dental checkups, can be enough in most cases to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.