Brushing Teeth

Do not go overboard with brushing. Although two to three times a day might be the ideal number to brush, brushing more frequently or for extended periods of time can cause enamel abrasion and damage to your gums. Bearing down too hard can irritate your gums or cause bleeding. It takes much less pressure to loosen plaque than you’d expect. Aggressive back and forth strokes can cause damage to the tooth-gum line when used with an abrasive toothpaste. Use an up and down motion with short stokes while holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth.

Be thorough so as to remove plaque that may “hide” in your mouth. Begin brushing on the outside surface of your back molars, working your way around the arch starting on from one side working your way to the opposite molars. Then roll the brush over the inner surface of the back molars and back to the starting side. Of course, cleaning your tongue is just as important as cleaning your teeth. This is not only to disrupt the plaque on the tongue but this helps to keep your breath fresh. It’s more ideal to use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue. I recommend the Tongue Squigi as it follows the anatomy of the tongue and has a flexible rubber tip so it’s gentle on the tongue.

It’s easier to have a brushing method in place because it will ensure that you cover all areas. Also remember to maintain the 45-degree brushing angle, because this will ensure that you brush the gum-line area of the tooth which removes the plaque which causes gingivitis (gum inflammation) and decay (cavities).