Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly?

Brushing your teeth is the number one action you can take to ensure a healthy and sparkling smile. In order to gain the most from your toothbrush, it’s important to use proper technique. Here is how to brush your teeth the right way:

The Best Brushing Technique

Ideally, you should brush for at least two minutes, although most people don’t achieve that length. It can be a hard thing to keep track of, so try using a stopwatch to get a feel of what 120 seconds feels like.

The proper brush strokes are short and gentle. There is no need to attack your teeth and gums with hard, aggressive strokes.  Tilt the brush to a 45-degree angle on the gums and roll the brush away from the gumline. Carefully brush the inside, outside and top of every tooth using quick back-and-forth swipes.  Be sure to brush your tongue as thoroughly as well, it can harbor loads of bacteria.

The Best Toothbrush

The majority of dentists agree that a soft-bristled toothbrush is best for your teeth. The bristles can still remove germs and crumbs easily, but they will not hurt your gums or teeth. Small-headed toothbrushes are also recommended, since they can better reach all the areas of your mouth, molars included.

An electric toothbrush is a great way to upgrade your cleaning capabilities. The rotating bristles are able to pull out the debris from your teeth more effectively. If you choose the electric over the manual, be sure to change your toothbrush head frequently as it can become frayed easily.

Toothpaste is another oral hygiene product with quite a selection on the market. There are toothpastes for just about every dental condition or whitening purpose out here. When choosing a toothpaste brand for your home, be sure to choose one with fluoride, which prevents tooth decay and protects your teeth from harmful acids.

The Best Time to Replace Your Brush
The standard life of a manual toothbrush is about three to four months. But, if you can see badly frayed bristles on your brush, or you have been sick recently, be sure to replace it sooner.

When it comes to electric toothbrushes, the replaceable heads have a similar three to four month lifespan. The bodies of the electric models are built to last years and years, so they may be worth the investment if you want your smile to shine the brightest.