01/03/2023
The right ways to brush your teeth !
A good brush and a bit of technique go surprisingly far to boosting your smile and health.
So beware of fancy marketing promises that suggest one toothbrush is better than another. Instead, Dr. Jiang recommends:
-Get a toothbrush you like and will use regularly.
-Choose bristles based on your gum health. "If your gums are sensitive, you’ll need soft bristles that don’t cause irritation. If you don’t have gum problems, it’s fine to use hard bristles," Dr. Jiang says.
-Replace your toothbrush every few months. "It’s time for a new brush if the bristles are splayed out and no longer upright, or your teeth don’t feel clean after you brush," Dr. Jiang says.
Use the right brushing technique.
No matter what kind of toothbrush you use, Dr. Jiang suggests using this brushing method twice daily and flossing before or afterward each time:
Brush with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. Divide the time among the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right teeth — 30 seconds per section.
Angle the brush. "The bristles should be aimed toward the gums where they meet the teeth, a junction where plaque and calculus collect. You don’t want the bristles to be perpendicular to your teeth, at a 90-degree angle, but angled, at a 45-degree angle," Dr. Jiang says.
Make circles with the bristles. "Rotate the bristles around and around in a gentle sweeping motion to help grab debris at the gum line," Dr. Jiang says.
Brush without distractions so you can focus on your brushing technique.
Be gentle. If you press too hard while brushing, you’ll irritate and possibly injure your gums. Brush your tongue, too. It collects loads of bacteria that need to be brushed away.
Rinse your mouth and your brush. Wash away all traces of toothpaste and food debris.
Take a peek at your gums. When you finish brushing, pull your lips away from your teeth to see if you left food particles around your teeth. Your gums should not look red or swollen.
