How To Correctly Brush Your Teeth

[Dan]

Brushing our teeth is an everyday activity for all of us. Yet, it is staggering that quite a majority of adults do not know the correct method to properly brush their teeth leading to oral concerns in the long run including

but not limited to Plaque, Calculus, Bleeding Gums, Halitosis(Bad breath), Gum diseases, Caries, Tooth discoloration.

It should be noted that most of these dental problems do not evoke any symptoms or pain until they have progressed to a relatively advanced stage. Infact, many people search on the search engines on “how to brush my dogs teeth” when they should rather be searching for “how to brush my teeth”


There have been various tooth brushing techniques suggested historically by dentists but the most accepted brushing technique is “The Bass Method”.

Here, I outline step by step the strategy for effectively brushing your teeth keeping dental problems at bay.

* -Always use a soft bristled tooth brush, hard bristles damage your gums leading to gingival
recession.
* -Wet your toothbrush and take a pea amount of toothpaste.
position12 How To Correctly Brush Your Teeth


* -Hold the tooth brush tilted an angle of 45 degrees towards your gums. The upper teeth (Maxillary teeth) should be cleaned first. Begin at the frontal (visible) aspect of the most posterior (Back) teeth and clean the teeth 3 at a time.


* -Use short, back and forth motions with out exerting too much pressure. Concentrate on the part of tooth which is nearer to the gums (the neck of the tooth technically referred as Cervical 1/3 of tooth.) as improper cleaning of this part is most often responsible for gum diseases.
* -First clean the frontal (visible/outer) surface of teeth, then the chewing surfaceand lastly the inner surfaces. If you find the head of brush too large to maintain the 45 degree angle while cleaning the inner surface of teeth, use the brush vertically.


* -Now, Lift the brush and move anteriorly to the next 3 teeth and repeat the same process cleaning the outer, chewing and inner surfaces.
* -Continue along the arch till you reach the end of the arch and then shift to the lower teeth and clean them in a similar way.

* -Brush gently along the gum line of your tooth as this effectively dislodges any accumulated food debris (on which bacteria grows).
* -Brush your tongue too which keeps bad breath away.

[adamsmith]

very cleanly and neatly explained about how to brush the teeth. All your points are very nice. What is the meaning for Bass Method? Is it correct keeping a pinch of salt in the toothpaste while brushing?

[Jacob123]

Good thing you mentioned the amount of toothpaste to use, because most people over do it with the toothpaste usage. Besides, most toothpastes contain sugar, which rots your teeth...requiring you to go to the dentist and spend money (what a great cycle!)

[toothfairy]

You haven't mentioned to brush the teeth also in circular motion. I've read in a recent research that brushing teeth in a circular motion removes dirt effectively. Just sharing my thoughts.=D

[JohnC]

Yes, the amount of toothpaste on the brush is new to me also. When asking my dentist about brushing my daughter's teeth, she said to use a pea-size amount. I didn't realize that carried on to adults as well.

I use an electric toothbrush. So it does some of the things mentioned. It's nice not to have to think about it.

[toothfairy]

short, back-and-forth brushing motions to clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces. Follow with up-and-down motions to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.
Brush along the gum line. This is extremely important, as gum disease starts here. Brush gently to avoid damaging your gums.
Make sure to brush your back molars, where bacteria like to hide.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.

Try to floss at least once a day, since most adult cavities occur between teeth. The most important time to floss is before going to bed. Floss before or after you brush'either is fine. Guide the floss between the teeth and use it to gently rub the side of each tooth.

[Vega]

I think the teeth most people neglect are the wisdom teeth and back molars. That's why it's god to have a smaller brush head because then you can reach back there effectively as well as get more effectively into the grooves or spaces between your teeth. And don't forget to floss as this will get any food or plaque in between your teeth where your brush can't reach.

[ppyo]

Hello, Dan. This is really very neatly and simply explained. Very useful. Had I seen your thread earlier, I wouldn't have posted another one with almost the same title.

[peytoncyras]

Squeeze some toothpaste onto a soft-bristled toothbrush. Your toothpaste should contain fluoride and bear the American Dental Association (ADA) seal.

Use short, back-and-forth brushing motions to clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces. Follow with up-and-down motions to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.

Brush along the gum line. This is extremely important, as gum disease starts here. Brush gently to avoid damaging your gums. Make sure to brush your back molars, where bacteria like to hide.

Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath. Spit out the toothpaste and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.

Try to floss at least once a day, since most adult cavities occur between teeth. The most important time to floss is before going to bed. Floss before or after you brush'either is fine. Guide the floss between the teeth and use it to gently rub the side of each tooth.

[dm13]

I brush my teeth about 2-3 minutes. I make sure that I do it gently so it won't bleed and brush your tongue as well. I also use floss and mouthwash to really make sure that it's all clean. It feels really refreshing when you have a nice breath!