Do You Rush your Brush? Top Tips for Effective Toothbrushing

Tooth brushing is the most important and obvious part of daily oral hygiene. It’s the most effective way of removing daily plaque and acid that builds up in your mouth from the things we eat and drink.
Do you know that 1 in 4 people don’t brush twice a day and even more admit that they sometimes forget or aren’t sure how to brush properly. In order to disperse of any uncertainty here are top tips for the correct way to brush your teeth.

1. Which Brush Should I Use?
There are so many choices of brush nowadays it can be confusing as to which is the right one for you.
Firstly, manual or electric? Either will do the job but electric brushes have proven to be more effective way of removing plaque, however if you brush properly with a manual toothbrush you can still get the job done.
Ensure you choose the right size head to fit your mouth and size of your teeth.

Ensure the bristles aren’t too firm – medium to soft are usually the best bet so they don’t damage gums. You may think firm bristles will remove the most plaque but if used too much they can damage the enamel on your teeth which isn’t replaced. If they come into too much contact with your gums they can cause inflammation.

2. How to Brush Effectively
You should brush your teeth for 2 minutes. Some electric tooth brushes have timers on them so you know you are spending enough time on each area of your mouth.

Brush in circular motions, covering all three surfaces of your teeth front and back.

Ensure your brush covers the tooth to gum line but not across your gums. This is so you can reach food trapped between teeth but not damage your gums with bristles.

Don’t forget to brush your tongue – a lot of plaque forms here, which can cause bad breath – ugh!

3. Choose the Right Toothpaste
There are so many different toothpastes on the market, all promising different things! Controlling sensitivity, ensuring whitening, controlling tartar and ones that claim to do the lot! The most important detail you need to look for on your toothpaste packet is the fluoride content.

Fluoride reduces the amount of acid that is produced in your mouth from what we eat and drink. It also helps to strengthen tooth enamel. You should always use toothpaste with 1450ppm fluoride content in order to care for your teeth.

4. Keep It Clean
Do you always rinse your brush? You should. Germs from your mouth and teeth can stay on it if you don’t. It will also get rid of leftover toothpaste that can harden bristles.

You shouldn’t use a disinfectant to cleanse your toothbrush. Just rinse it and let it air dry. Don’t put it in a case where it will stay damp.

5. Extra Support
Add a good mouthwash to your dental care routine – leave it about 15-20 minutes after brushing so that the fluoride from your toothpaste has a chance to work. Using mouthwash after you have eaten lunch can also be useful – or chewing a sugar free gum. This helps raise the levels of saliva to kill acid content in the mouth. Also flossing using interdental brushes or flossing sticks or dental floss will remove any hard to reach food stuck in teeth and keep your gums healthy.

Should you have any questions or queries about oral care then don’t hesitate to ask your dentist or dental hygienist, who are always happy to provide advice.