Brushing your teeth. We do it every day, so there’s no trick to it, right? Well, kind of wrong. There’s actually quite a bit of technique that goes into a proper brushing. Let’s dig into it.
Your brush has got to be the right size.
It should fit comfortable in your hand, and you should be able to reach all of your teeth without a problem. Especially the ones in the back! So if you can’t quite get back there, you need a smaller brush.
Make sure your brush has soft bristles!
Brushing with bristles that are to firm can irritate your gums and even wear away your tooth enamel. I know the tougher bristles feel more productive, but soft ones will get the job done.
Replace your toothbrush every three or four months.
After that, it starts to wear out a bit. What’s more is that bacteria like to set up shop there. Keep it clean and dry. Otherwise, gross!
Floss your teeth!
It’s just as important as brushing. It gets all the places your brush can’t get to, places where you can easily get a painful, expensive cavity. I know, it’s a pain. Especially if you have braces. But it’s worth it.
And now, for the actual brushing of the teeth.
Use a small amount of toothpaste.
If you use too much, your mouth is going to fill up with bubbles and you might be tempted to spit it into the sink earlier than you should. Also, when you use too much paste you’re that much more likely to swallow some of it. And toothpaste is not good for you. At all.
Your brush should make contact with your teeth at a 45 degree angle.
Move in gentle, small circular motions. Or you can move vertically. Just don’t brush straight across your teeth! Spend three or four minutes brushing. Make sure to get everywhere (including your tongue)! If you get bored, try watching TV or listening to a favorite song.
Finally, rinse it all out!
Rinse your brush well and place it somewhere it can dry. Do this twice a day and you’re guaranteed to have some niiice looking teeth.