Recommended brushing techniques
There are a variety of efficient techniques for brushing your teeth. If you talk to your dentist or dental hygienist, they can help you figure out which method will be the most comfortable and effective for you, taking into account the position of your teeth and condition of the gums.
One of the easiest methods to use is to brush with the toothbrush in a circular or elliptical pattern, concentrating on a few teeth at a time, throughout the mouth.
The toothbrush should be angled at about 45-degrees to your teeth, carefully brushing teeth in a circular pattern. Make sure you cover all surfaces, brushing the teeth on the outside, inside, and along the tongue, concentrating on the chewing areas, as well as in between the teeth. Brushing in a movement that goes back and forth, could increase the likelihood of the gums to recede, or might inflame the root area or cause the surface of the root to become exposed. The gum line could become worn down.
Choosing a soft or hard toothbrush
Typically, you should choose a brush that is little, about 1″, for to ensure it can easily access all parts of the mouth. A long handle makes it easier to hold on to. Using a soft brush with multiple length bristles will give you the most effective cleaning. The bristles should be a soft nylon, rounded at the ends. It is not recommended to use hard or even medium bristles. If you use too hard a brush, it could wear down the enamel of the teeth. When brushing, do not press down too hard on the teeth; a firm pressure, adequate to reach in between the teeth is best.
Length of brushing
Dentists usually suggest brushing for about 3-4 minutes. An excellent idea is to turn the radio on while brushing and brush along for the duration of a song. You can also use an egg timekeeper to keep track of your brushing length. Often people will think that they are brushing for a longer time than they actually are, however, most actually end up brushing for only a minute. To ensure you are doing an adequate brushing and not missing areas of the teeth, it’s recommended that you do a full brushing of 3-4 minutes, twice daily, instead of shorter, quick brushings throughout the day.
Brushing at work
Most Americans don’t brush while at work, however a report by Oral-B Laboratories and also the Academy of General Dentistry shows that if you do keep a toothbrush at the office, the possibility that you will clean your teeth during the day goes up by 65%, so dentists do suggest using a toothbrush at work is a good practice. It ensures that the snacks and sweets you eat during the day aren’t left on the teeth, switching to harmful acids. As long as you brush with fluoride toothpaste morning and at night, then you don’t need to use toothpaste at the office. It is adequate enough to use just do a quick cleanup with the toothbrush and water before going back to work. If you don’t have a brush, a quick swishing of the water assists greatly in keeping the teeth clean.
