How to Brush Your Teeth The Right Way

We’re taught early on to make brushing our teeth a habit. It’s important to keep our teeth clean and prevent dental issues like cavities and gum disease.

But not everyone knows how to brush their teeth the right way.

That’s partly why more than 1 in 4 American adults still suffer from untreated tooth decay. And nearly half of those over 30 show signs of gum disease.

So in this article, we’ll go over the proper method and steps for brushing your teeth. That way, you can be confident about your dental hygiene and prevent a lot of dental issues down the road.

Choosing the Proper Toothbrush and Toothpaste

To start, get a toothbrush with a soft-bristle brush. You want one that is small enough to easily maneuver in your mouth, so it can reach everywhere needed.

Also, remember to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, after a cold, or whenever it gets old. A worn brush could spread bacteria across your teeth and not do you any good.

Next, choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is a chemical compound that helps protect your teeth against cavities.

Finally, any toothbrush and toothpaste with the official American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval is a good choice. You can be confident they are safe and good for the average user.

How To Brush Your Teeth

When it comes to actually brushing your teeth, follow the steps below closely. You can move from your top to bottom set of teeth and from left to right or vice versa.

1. Start in the back of your mouth with your molars. Brush their outer side and slowly move your way through the rest. You’ll want to brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and move the brush in short, circular motions or gentle and even back-and-forth strokes.
2. After you clean the outer molars, move on to their inner side and brush in the same way.
3. Next, get the chewing surface of your molars. Simply lay the bristles on flat and scrub gently.
4. Don’t forget to catch the gum line along with your teeth as you go along since plaque often gets trapped there, too.
5. Once you have finished brushing all your molars, move on to your canines.
6. Then get your front teeth. You’ll need to tilt your brush vertically to get their backside.
7. Brush your tongue to remove any bacteria that’s on it. It will make your breath smell better.
8. Finish with a rinse to wash off the bacteria you just scrubbed off.
9. And finally, don’t overbrush or you might scrape away too much, which could lead to your gums receding and your teeth becoming more sensitive.

And that’s it! For the best results, brush your teeth regularly. You should brush twice per day for 2 minutes. For example, try brushing once in the morning and once at night.

Also, if you have any tooth replacements like dental implants, make sure to brush them, too, since they still collect bacteria. In fact, not brushing them is bad for your other teeth as well.

Final Steps

To keep your teeth in top shape, get regular checkups from your dentist and keep a healthy diet. Avoid too many sugars, especially candy and soda.

If you do this and keep up a good brushing routine, you can prevent most dental issues. And before you know it, you’ll be flashing a fresh, clean, and happy smile wherever you go.