You know how to brush your teeth Maybe you’ve been doing it for over 40 years! Maybe you’ve never had a cavity.
Be sure that your tooth brush has soft bristles and fits the shape of your mouth. Choose a brush with a smaller head If you have a smaller mouth, Switch your toothbrush every three months, or when the bristles begin to fray.
As far as tooth paste goes, be sure to choose one with fluoride that has the ADA seal.
It is very important that you wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth. When we eat, the pH balance in our mouth becomes more acidic. Waiting 30 minutes, and drinking plenty of water in the meantime, gives you enough time to rinse the acidic saliva out of your mouth.
If you brush too soon after eating, the brushing motion on your teeth combined with the acid in your mouth can be very harsh on your enamel.
When you do begin to brush, the process should take about two minutes. This gives the fluoride enough time to soak into your teeth.
Step 1: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Beginning with the outer and inner surfaces, use very short strokes to brush along your gum line, taking care to reach all the way to the back of your mouth.
Step 2: Now, hold the brush parallel to the ground to brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Step 3: Tilt the brush vertically to get the backs of your teeth in up-and-down strokes with the brush’s tip.
Step 4: In a back-to-front, sweeping movement, brush your tongue, removing all food particles and odor-causing bacteria.
Step 5: Make sure you do not rinse with water. This will rinse away the tooth-strengthening fluoride that is sitting on your teeth’s surface. Instead, try rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash after you’ve brushed for two minutes.
Brushing your teeth with proper technique is so extremely important, but it’s not the only thing you need to do to keep your teeth at their healthiest and brightest!
Flossing every day and visiting a dentist twice a year is also crucial for keeping you and your teeth happy.
If you have a question or concerns, feel free to contact Dr. Guerra at 561-844-6146. We’re here to help!
1. Watch What You Eat! Don’t forget about fresh fruits and veggies as healthy snack alternatives.
2. Keep Your Dental Appointments! As many as 23.7 percent of American adults have untreated cavities, according to data from the CDC. If it’s been a while since your last dental appointment, it’s time to schedule a visit.
3. Take Supplemental Vitamin D! Vitamin D is important to help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat.
