When you visit us for your professional cleanings, we are
always happy to teach you brushing techniques that will remove the maximum
amount of plaque from your teeth. Here are some tips to serve as a reminder
and to make your brushing sessions even more productive.
Always use a toothbrush with soft bristles with rounded
tips, to avoid damaging your gums.
Hold
your brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line (the area where teeth
and gums meet).
Using a gentle, circular motion, move the brush around
one or two teeth at a time, overlapping as you move along.
It's also a good idea to have a regular brushing pattern.
It's fine to use any pattern you wish, as long as you clean each surface of
each tooth. For example:
Start with the insides of your upper teeth,
and brush from the right side to the left.
Move to the insides of your lower teeth, from
the left side to the right.
Brush the front of all upper teeth, then the
front of all lower teeth.
Then brush the chewing surfaces of your upper
teeth, then your lower teeth.
Use the tip of your toothbrush to brush the
backside of your front teeth.
Lastly,
gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth, to keep your breath fresh.
To prevent future cavities, it's important to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride helps to harden
the enamel on the surface of your teeth, and it might even stop a cavity in
its tracks.
Don't forget to change your toothbrush when the bristles
are worn or bent, at least every three months. Old bristles don't clean well
under the gum line, and they host more plaque and disease-causing bacteria.
The health benefits of brushing
Simply put, brushing removes plaque, a sticky mixture
of bacteria, food and saliva that continually deposits on your teeth. If
it's not regularly removed, plaque hardens into tartar, which can only be
removed with special instruments here in our office.
The bacteria in plaque can cause gums to bleed easily
and become red and swollen. This condition is called gingivitis, and it's
the first stage of gum disease. If allowed to progress, gingivitis can develop
into periodontitis, a more severe infection of the gums in which
bone tissue and teeth can be lost. While the effects of gingivitis are reversible,
sadly, bone loss is not. That's why it's crucial to take proper care of
your teeth and gums, and thoroughly remove plaque each day.
Hold
your brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line (the area where teeth
and gums meet).
Lastly,
gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth, to keep your breath fresh.