Proper Techniques when Brushing Your Teeth According to Experts

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You probably have a lot of questions about brushing your teeth. You’re curious to know how often you should brush, how long, and how to brush in general. If you think there are strict rules in brushing, the truth is there really isn’t. According to a study posted on the British Dental Journal, most of the things you know about brushing are wrong, including the following:

Brushing Right After Eating

It is not recommended that you brush your teeth after a meal. Instead, wait at least 30 minutes since the pH in your mouth is still low and acidic. If you brush – even if it’s too gentle – this could damage your teeth and cause abrasions.

Tooth-Rushing

Some people brush their teeth for a minute or even less because they have an important meeting or they’re just lazy. If you’re on the run, adding one more minute will benefit your teeth and whole mouth. It is also a good idea to turn off the faucet while you are brushing. When it is running, you could feel like you have to rush the brushing process.

Forgetting the Tongue

After cleaning your teeth, you rinse your mouth and you proceed with your other tasks. Obviously, you forgot something extremely important: your tongue. It also needs the kind of attention you give to your teeth as it harbors bacteria that can cause bad breath among others. By brushing your tongue, you remove the bacteria and dead cells as well as fungi and food debris.

Thinking There’s Only One Way to Brush

What your mom taught you when you were a kid may not be applicable to you now. There’s a saying that one size can’t fit all and this can be applied to brushing techniques as well. What may be right for your best friend may not be good for your mouth. Nevertheless, dentists recommend that you use a soft toothbrush. While brushing, position the brush on a 45° angle toward your gum line. Circular strokes will do the trick, particularly in removing plaque. You can talk to your dental hygienist to find out the right technique for your oral care. Your dental history as well as your own dental needs will be considered to determine which technique you should use. Improper brushing can lead to abrasion and recession at your gingival level.

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Brushing Hard

There are teeth stains that are difficult to remove. These stains and other imperfections can be removed through hard brushing, right? If this is a habit of yours, it’s time to change it. You should always brush lightly. Hold your brush with just two fingers to help you get an idea of how gentle you should go.

Using Whitening Toothpastes

You certainly want to have pearly white teeth, so you turn to whitening toothpastes. While they may be effective and don’t really pose a risk to your teeth and gums, you should know they are not for everyone. If your dentist told you to start being gentle with your brushing, you shouldn’t try whitening toothpastes as they contain silica particles. These particles help the product whiten your teeth, so they scratch your teeth’s surfaces to remove the stains. This can cause damage to both your teeth and gums, especially if you are already brushing quite hard.

Going without Flossing

You probably think brushing is enough to have a healthy mouth. Flossing should always be a part of your oral care routine. Before you brush your teeth, you should floss first to get to places your toothbrush bristles cannot reach.

Brushing your teeth is definitely essential when taking care of your mouth. However, if your toothbrush isn’t nearby, you can simply eat crunchy fruits and vegetables to clean your teeth the natural way.

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