Brushing

Proper brushing is an essential dental care routine for your teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice daily and replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. In addition, you should use fluoride toothpaste and brush for two minutes every time. Brushing your teeth helps remove plaque – a sticky film containing bacteria and food particles, which can lead to tooth decay or gum disease over time.

Proper brushing technique

Gently brush the outer surfaces of your upper and lower teeth. You may brush tooth by tooth to ensure you don’t miss any spots
Tilt your toothbrush at 45% angles while brushing against the gum line to remove any trapped food particles or plaque. Gently alternate between moving your brush back and forth using short (tooth-wide) strokes.
Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth at a 45% angle using a back and forth motion
Clean the teeth surfaces (pits and grooves of your teeth) using short back and forth strokes to remove food debris that easily gets stuck within the pits.
Brush your tongue to get rid of any odour causing bacteria

Properly brushing your teeth is not the only part of your dental hygiene routine. You also need to consider the following to ensure you achieve a healthy smile.

Eat a balanced diet with reduced sugary beverages and snacks
Schedule routine dental checkup with X-rays and cleanings with your dentist for prevention and treatment of dental diseases
Floss daily
Drink 7-8 glasses of water
Replace your toothbrush after 3-4 months, when it starts to wear out or after an illness, whichever comes first. Changing your toothbrush can prevent reinfection of cold and flu viruses, the herpes virus that causes cold sores, among others
Remember not to share your toothbrush with anyone else

For more information, please contact a Campus Dentist office near you.