You’ve been doing it since you were five. You switch to auto pilot morning and night and get it done. But are you doing it correct?
Actually, many people are making tooth brushing mistakes. You may need to tweak your routine to better support your oral health and guard your smile from dental caries and gum disease.
Here are essential tooth brushing tips:
1. Take your time.
It’s understandable. You want to get it over with and go to bed. Proper teeth cleaning takes time and careful attention. Time yourself the next time you brush—you might be surprised at how quickly you finish. The process should take at least two to three minutes. It can also be beneficial to take a different route around your mouth every few days. By altering your process, you approach areas from a different, and possibly, better angle.
2. Don’t forget to floss.
No matter how agile you can be with your brush, it’s problematic to clear away the plaque from all those narrow gaps between your teeth. That is where bacteria can easily propagate and start the decay process.
3. Use the right toothbrush.
It is ironic that some people hurt their enamel or gums because they brush too forcefully with a rigid brush. Drs. Geren & Mady counsels patients to only use a soft brush. If you’ve had gum grafts, you may want to use an extra soft brush.
4. Don’t keep your tooth brush near the toilet.
This is terrible to think about, but each time the toilet is flushed, bacteria is sent far into the air—even if you close the lid. Keep your toothbrush in a clean place and allow it to air dry.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste.
This may seem like a no-brainer but you may be surprised that some oral care products don’t contain fluoride. And you may think it’s only for youth. Not true. Your enamel is continuously under assault from acidic foods and drinks and fluoride helps it remineralize.
Need to schedule a dental checkup? Curious about cosmetic dentistry services such as dental implants or teeth whitening? Give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry: 703-360-5881
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
8101 Hinson Farm Rd Ste 114
Alexandria, Virginia
22306
