How to Brush Teeth Properly
Maybe everybody can say: «Of course, I know how to brush my teeth!» But why so many people do it not right? Let’s start from beginning.
When Should We Start Brushing Teeth?
Brushing your teeth should begin at an early age, around 24 months, or as directed by child’s physician. Children will need help brushing their teeth until they are around the age of 7 to 8. Even before child actually has teeth, it is important to perform mouth care.
Using a damp washcloth or piece of gauze, gently rub it over infant’s gums to help clean the mouth. A soft toothbrush, wet with water, may be used after infant has developed some teeth. It is advised to consult child’s dentist regarding the appropriate time for toddler to begin using toothpaste. Only a very small amount of toothpaste should be used because children will often swallow the toothpaste, instead of spitting it out.
Why We Need to Brush Teeth?
The single best way to remove harmful plaque - a thin, sticky film of bacteria - from teeth and gums is to brush teeth regularly and properly.
Daily brushing keeps the teeth clean, stimulates the gums and keeps the gums firm. We should brush teeth after eating, to remove food particles. If a person cannot brush his teeth after eating, they should rinse their mouth thoroughly with water.
How to Brush Teeth Right?
Because every mouth is different, there is more than one technique of teeth brushing that has proven to be effective. Proper brushing takes at least two minutes - that’s right, 120 seconds! Most adults do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch.
Generally, most dentists recommend a circular technique for brushing. This includes brushing only a small group of teeth at a time and gradually covering the entire mouth. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gum line, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:
- Outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Chewing surfaces
- Brush each area at least 10 times
- For fresh breath brush your tongue
To Brush Teeth at Work?
Definitely, but most Americans don’t brush during the workday. Yet a recent survey by Oral-B Laboratories and the Academy of General Dentistry shows if you keep a toothbrush at work, the chances you will brush during the day increase by 65%. Dentists recommend keeping a toothbrush at work.
Getting the debris off teeth right away stops sugary snacks from turning to damaging acids, and catches starchy foods like potato chips before they turn to cavity-causing sugar. If you brush with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and before going to bed, you don’t even need to use toothpaste at work. You can just brush and rinse before heading back to the desk.
What Type of Toothbrush Should We Use?
Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth. Small-headed brushes are also preferable, since they can better reach all areas of the mouth, including hard-to-reach back teeth.
Small-headed brushes - about 1 inch by 1/2 inch - and should have a handle suitable for firm grasping. The bristles of the brush should be soft, nylon, and rounded at the ends. This helps ensure that the brush bristles are reaching the spaces between the teeth as well as the surface. Some brushes are too abrasive and can wear down the enamel on teeth. Thus, in most cases, medium and hard bristles are not recommended.
Toothpaste for Brushing Your Teeth
Also called dentifrice, toothpaste has a history that stretches back nearly 4,000 years. Until the mid-nineteenth century, abrasives used to clean teeth did not resemble modern toothpastes.
Modern toothpaste was invented to aid in the removal foreign particles and food substances, as well as cleans the teeth. When originally marketed to consumers, toothpaste was packaged in jars. Sheffield Labs claims it was the first company to put toothpaste in tubesa€¦
Every toothpaste contains the following ingredients: binders, abrasives, sudsers, humectants, flavors (unique additives), sweeteners, fluorides, tooth whiteners, a preservative, and water.
It is important that you use toothpaste that’s right for you. Today there is a wide variety of toothpaste designed for many conditions. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist which toothpaste is right for you.
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