A Short Guide to Properly Brushing Your Teeth

How to brush your teeth and keep them clean

There are few things more beautiful than a big, white smile. But, the benefits of maintaining a good oral hygiene go way beyond just having a beautiful smile. By brushing your teeth properly, you remove a thin film of bacteria that can cause gum disease, cavities, and, if you give them enough time, loss of teeth.

Yet, what is the proper way to brush your teeth?

Having a great smile is a fantastic feeling, which can be easily accomplished if you maintain a good oral hygiene that includes regular brushing and flossing.

Find a Good Toothbrush

The most important thing you’ll need in order to maintain a good oral hygiene is to have a good toothbrush. If you are a lazy brusher, buy yourself an electric one. If you have a good technique, you can use the ordinary brush. For the best effect, though, you should use both – give your teeth a good brush in the morning, and use the more thorough electric brush in the evening.

There is a variety of choices when it comes to the right toothbrush, but if you have a good brushing technique, even an ordinary one will do the job.

Floss, Floss, Floss

Flossing is just as important as brushing is. When it comes to removing food particles from between your teeth, it is even more efficient than a toothbrush. However, you will get the best results if you combine these two techniques. Just remember to floss before brushing, in order to completely clean your teeth.

To maximize your cleaning of the teeth, use floss in addition to brushing.

Go Easy on the Toothpaste

Although it’s easy to assume that more toothpaste amounts to cleaner teeth, that is not entirely true. As a matter of fact, too much toothpaste creates excessive foam, which will make you finish brushing earlier. It also raises the chances of you swallowing much more fluoride-rich toothpaste than you normally would. A pea-sized amount of paste is more than enough.

No need to load up your toothbrush with too much toothpaste, as only a pea-sized amount will do the job and save you from swallowing the excess.

The Proper Brushing Technique

• First, place the head of your toothbrush against your gum line and tilt it 45 degrees.
• Start brushing the outer surface of each tooth. Move the brush back and forth and keep the bristles at the same angle at all times.
• Now is the time to move to the inner surface of your teeth. Tilt the brush vertically, make several circular strokes and then switch to gentle up-and-down movements.
• When you finish cleaning your teeth, you should softly brush your tongue to remove the remaining bacteria and refresh your breath.

Teach your children to brush properl from an early age, to develop good oral hygiene habits.

How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth

According to renowned Australian dental specialists, you should brush your teeth for at least three minutes. This does sounds like a lot, and it will drag until you get used to, but once you do the time will pass much faster. If you are really bored, try brushing your teeth while watching TV.

Take your time with brushing for at least 3 minutes, to do it properly.

How to Rinse

When you finish brushing, you probably take a sip of water, swish it around your mouth and then spit the water out. There is a debate whether or not this practice is recommended. Some specialists claim that rinsing your mouth undermines the effects of the fluoride treatment. Others think that this is the best way to prevent the excessive fluoride ingestion. However, rinsing your mouth with a natural mouthwash may be the best solution.

Round, electric toothbrushes are also a popular choice for keeping a good oral hygiene

Rinse the Toothbrush

While brushing, your toothbrush picks up a lot of bacteria. If you don’t rinse it, the bacteria will find their way back into your mouth sooner or later. Rinsing will also remove the toothpaste leftovers, so when you finish brushing, leave the brush under running water for a couple of seconds and then leave it somewhere to dry.

A stunning smile is priceless. All you have to do to get one is to slightly adjust your brushing routine. So, find a good brush, set your stopwatch to three minutes and give those teeth a proper brushing.

All above images courtesy of Creative Commons

Author bio:

Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls and a passionate writer. In her free time she enjoys writing interesting and informative posts on women's health and fitness related themes.

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