How to brush your teeth correctly: the most detailed instructions

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Competent toothbrushing begins with the choice of toothpaste.

How to brush your teeth properly

1. Choose a paste with the right fluoride content

Fluorine is a gas. To add it to toothpaste, it is combined with other elements to form solid fluoride substances. They are able to destroy the bacteria that cause tooth decay and also to strengthen the tooth enamel.

For adults, dentists recommend Fluoride to choose a paste that contains 1,350-1,500 ppm fluoride. The value should be indicated on the tube or package.

Children - from 1,000 ppm. True, here it is necessary to ensure that the amount of toothpaste on the brush does not exceed the size of a pea.

The use of toothpastes with fluoride is considered by dentists to be one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay.

In addition to fluoride, pastes may contain other elements.

2. Find a comfortable toothbrush

For most adults, How to keep your teeth clean brushes with a small head and crisscrossing short and long rounded bristles.

If you have normal teeth, choose a medium hardness. But children and people with sensitive teeth should take soft bristles.

Whether this brush is electric or manual is not so important. Use whichever option is more comfortable for you.

3. Brush your teeth twice a day and at least 2 minutes at a time

On average, people brush their teeth for only 45 seconds, sincerely believing that this is enough. The hurry-ups are mistaken. To effectively remove plaque, brush for at least 120 seconds. The Effect of Brushing Time and Dentifrice on Dental Plaque Removal in vivo.

4. Follow the cleaning technique

The American Dental Association insists on this algorithm:

Begin brushing with the left or right upper jaw triplets or fours.

Place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the tooth.

Brush your teeth with short back-and-forth strokes in the horizontal and vertical directions. Make sure that each tooth gets at least 10 movements. Walk in this way along the outer surface of all teeth on the upper and lower jaws.

Back and forth brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth on the lower and upper jaws.

Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth. To do this, position the brush as vertically as possible and move it up and down.

Complete the procedure by brushing your tongue. With a bristle or a special embossed pad on the back of the brush, sweep away plaque, starting at the base of the tongue and moving towards its tip.

For visual instructions on how to properly brush your teeth, see here:

5. Don't neglect dental floss

The bacteria that cause tooth decay often hide from the toothbrush in the narrow space between the teeth. To get them out of there, and at the same time to get rid of bits of food stuck between your teeth, use Brushing Your Teeth once a day.

6. Do not use mouthwash immediately after brushing

It can wash off fluoride. If you feel the need, rinse your mouth at a different time: after eating or at least 20-30 minutes after you have treated your teeth with paste.

What mistakes when brushing your teeth can cause tooth decay

Here are some common miscalculations of 8 Bad Brushing Habits to Break in 2019 that make brushing ineffective at best and useless and even harmful at worst.

1. You have been using the same toothbrush for more than 3-4 months

Worn and broken bristles cannot effectively remove plaque from teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush with a new one every quarter.

2. You press too hard on the brush when cleaning

You may feel like a tougher cleaning will remove more bacteria and food debris. But this is not the case. To qualitatively "wash" the surface of the tooth, gentle and even gentle movements are enough. But excessive assertiveness can damage the gums, and even tooth enamel.

For the same reason, you should not use a brush with too stiff bristles.

3. You brush your teeth immediately after eating

Dentists recommend waiting at least 60 minutes. This is especially important if you've eaten something sour (like lemons, grapefruit) or drank soda. These products soften tooth enamel and brushing can be harmful.

If you're desperate to freshen your mouth right after a meal, rinse it out with water or chew gum.

4. You store the brush incorrectly

You should not keep the brush in a closed container: in such places, microbes actively multiply, which you will then carry into your mouth right on the bristles. The best way to store your brush is in an upright position outdoors.

5. You do not follow the technique of brushing your teeth

It is important to thoroughly and thoughtfully clean all dental surfaces, not just those that are easiest to reach. Remember why you are brushing your teeth. This procedure is not for show, its purpose is to keep teeth healthy and protect them from caries. So brush thoughtfully.