In today’s post, our Surrey dentists share 3 easy ways you can improve your toothbrushing habits and boost your oral hygiene, based on some of the most common mistakes many patients make with this daily task.
Choose the Right Toothbrush for Your Smile
Whether you prefer a manual or electric toothbrush, make sure you can use it to easily reach all your mouth’s areas - even the nooks and crannies at the back - and that it will be easy and comfortable to use.
Does the toothbrush fit comfortably in your hand? If the toothbrush’s handle is too long or bulky, this may prevent you from brushing as thoroughly as you need to (and thorough brushing between routine dental cleanings at your dentist's office is critical to keeping your smile bright and healthy).
Bristles are the next area to inspect. For most people, a soft-bristled toothbrush is ideal, especially if you suffer from enamel erosion or sensitive teeth. Hard bristles can feel too rough on sensitive areas of your mouth.
Ask your dentist if you should take special care when looking at brush bristles, and about which type of bristles would be best for your teeth.
Our dentists at Guildford Dental always recommend that our patients look for a toothbrush with a smaller head, for a coule of reasons. With a smaller brush head, you can more easily reach the corners of your mouth that are sometimes difficult to reach with larger heads, such as the teeth at the very back of our mouth and the backs of your lower front teeth.
Ease Up When Brushing
Remember, brushing harder does not mean you’re brushing better. With toothbrushing, set a goal to give your teeth and gums a massage - not to vigorously brush away any plaque.
Take a deep breath before brushing. It’s best to perform this ritual when you’re feeling calm and brush gently, as your teeth and gums can be sensitive. Be kind to your smile!
Brush for 2 Full Minutes
For optimal oral health (and the best results), brush for a full 2 minutes, twice per day. You may be surprised to find that you are cutting your brushing time short, if you have never timed yourself while performing this twice-daily task.
Consider thinking of your mouth in four quarters and take about 30 seconds to focus on each of your mouth’s individual quadrants. Clean all areas of one section thoroughly before moving to the next quadrant. Once you’ve completed your 2 minutes, cap off your toothbrush time with a thorough flossing. Now you’re done!