Brushing your teeth goes without saying, right? Well, maybe not. Do you really know how to brush your teeth properly? Use this step-by-step guide to ensure you’re brushing effectively, and protecting your oral health.
- Step 1: Start with the outer surfaces of your teeth. Take your time! Gently brush your upper and then lower teeth. Going tooth by tooth can help you slow down and not miss any spots.
- Step 2: Tilt your brush at a 45° angle. Brush against the gum line to get rid of any trapped plaque or food debris. Gently move the brush back and forth using short, tooth-wide strokes. One of the easiest and most effective ways to improve gum health is to brush your teeth regularly. But it is crucial to make sure you are brushing well. Effective brushing will adequately remove food particles and plaque buildup and promote gum health.
- Step 3: Brush the inner surface of your teeth. Because the insides of your teeth are not as visible, skipping them is tempting –but these inner surfaces are just as vulnerable to plaque. Use a 45° angle to brush back and forth to clean the inside surfaces of the teeth.
- Step 4: Clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Don’t forget to use short back-and-forth strokes to brush the tops of your back teeth, where food can easily get trapped.
- Step 5: Brush your tongue. If you do not specifically concentrate on brushing your tongue, bacteria and germs will shelter in your papillae and remain in your mouth. These germs and bacteria can lead to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
- Extra Tip: Brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day!
Brushing your teeth is essential; nothing beats a shining smile. When you brush your teeth, you help remove food and plaque — a sticky white film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria. After you eat a meal or snack that contains sugar, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. Eventually, the acid can break down tooth enamel, causing cavities. Plaque that isn’t removed can also harden into tartar. This can make it more difficult to keep teeth clean. Tartar buildup on your gums leads to inflammation that causes gum disease. To stop tooth decay in its tracks, follow our guide to brushing your teeth and follow these simple steps:
- Floss daily.
- Use mouthwash after brushing and flossing.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
- Regular dental appointments.
A regular dental checkup offers patients professional dental cleaning services to detect and prevent tooth infections while helping maintain healthy teeth. During a checkup, we not only clean your teeth and gums, but can also look for signs of any oral health issues. If an issue is found, we can treat it as soon as possible. We can also go over effective cleaning methods and make recommendations to help keep teeth healthy.
Make an appointment with Kaysville Family Dentistry Today!
