It is very important to know how to brush your teeth properly to prevent undesirable tooth decay and gum disease. Wrong brushing can lead to abrasion of your teeth. The most common cause of this problem is the toothbrush. Sensitive gums are also likely to be destroyed by the toothbrush bristles.
The appropriate time for brushing your teeth is two minutes. Try to do it even if you need to use a stopwatch! For proper brushing make gentle movements paying special attention to the gum line, on all surfaces of the back teeth, areas around fillings, crowns, and bridges.
A detailed description of brushing:
- Apply a thin layer of toothpaste on a wet toothbrush.
- Start with the upper molars (back upper teeth) and their outer surface.
- Keep the toothbrush to form an angle of 45 degrees with the surface of the teeth and the bristles of the toothbrush come to almost below the gum line.
- Your movements are smooth and circular. To “wipe” the bacteria away from the gumline.
- Then go to the front teeth and on the outer surface.
- Following the same order, the lower teeth. From the lower back teeth on the lower front.
- Then continue with the inner surface of the teeth. Similarly, from the upper back teeth to the upper front ones and from the lower back teeth to the lower front ones.
- In the upper front and lower front teeth on the inner surface, you should keep the brush perpendicular to the occlusal surface of the tooth. Brush with the head of the toothbrush.
- Brush the occlusal surface of the teeth.
- In this step, place the brush parallel to the occlusal surface of the teeth and move back and forth.
- Finally, brush the inside of your cheeks and your tongue.
Tips
- Brush your teeth twice a day, morning and evening. Especially after your last brushing for the day don’t eat or drink anything for at least half an hour.
- When you brush someone else’s teeth, try to stay behind him, so you will have easier access to the mouth. If they are taller than you tell them to sit in a chair.
- Be sure to change your toothbrush every three months and after each cold or flu.
Athina Tsiorva