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Since you were a baby and you started cutting teeth, you started your journey into oral hygiene.
The most important aspect of a healthy smile is making sure that you know how to brush your teeth. There are specific techniques that you need to use and you have to make sure that you are brushing your teeth for the right length of time.
This ensures that you are able to remove all of the plaque, bacteria and food particles that will lead to gum disease and tooth decay if you do not take the time to properly remove them.In addition to brushing for the right amount of time, you also need to make sure that you are brushing often enough.
The general recommendation is twice a day, but you also want to make sure that you are taking into account the things you eat and how your mouth feels.
For example:
brushing your teeth after eating things high in sugar, corrosive ingredients and with the potential to stain work to preserve your healthy and white smile. Every time you brush your teeth, you have to do it for the right amount of time to get the best results.
Knowing what can happen if you do not adequately brush your teeth is a great way to motivate yourself to make sure that you do it right every time.
Timing yourself and using the right technique can prevent a number of oral and overall health issues. Many people make mistakes while brushing and you want to know what these are so that you can work to avoid them.
Of course, in addition to brushing your teeth, you also need to make sure that you are properly using dental floss and a good mouthwash for the greatest benefits.
How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth?
The average time you should spend brushing your teeth is 120 seconds, or 2 full minutes.
The majority of people do not spend enough time brushing their teeth. In fact, most people spend about 30 seconds just washing the outer surface of the teeth, use a little mouthwash and that is it.
This is not nearly enough time or technique to properly remove plaque and ensure healthy teeth.
The easiest way to make sure that you are brushing for the right amount of time is to divide your mouth into four places and then spend 30 seconds on each.
Using a proper brushing technique, do one-half of the top teeth, one-half of your bottom teeth and then go from there. Use a timer to make sure that you are getting the full 30 seconds for each area of your mouth to ensure a proper clean and adequate plaque removal.
The Oral-B Black 7000 SmartSeries toothbrush has a timer feature, which shows how much you should brush each side of your teeth. It’ll also let you know when to change your sides.
Brushing twice a day is the general recommendation from the American Dental Association, but other dental organizations recommend brushing three times per day.
You should brush at least twice, but brush a third time if your teeth need it. Your twice a day brushing should be in the morning and at night and include flossing and mouthwash.
How long you brush and brushing frequently are the most important parts of having clean teeth, but you also need to use a good toothpaste that provides a total clean while also helping to keep your teeth white by blasting through tough stains.
Proper Teeth Brushing Techniques
There is a proper technique to ensure that you properly brush your mouth thoroughly. You want to follow these steps every time you brush and they include:
- Start with your upper teeth and clean the outer surface
- Clean the outer surface of the lower teeth
- Clean the backs of your teeth and the tops of the back teeth
- Clean your tongue with a good quality tongue cleaner
Make sure to use gentle strokes and spend time on each area to ensure proper cleaning. Always clean your tongue last since you want to avoid taking any bacteria from your tongue and moving it onto your teeth.
Caution: Do not brush your gums because this can cause inflammation and actually aggravate your gums. Use a tongue cleaner instead.
It is important that you do not over brush your teeth and this can be just as harmful as not brushing enough.
When you are brushing your teeth, you have to use gentle strokes and an up and down motion. Brush for the right amount of time and three times per day.
Remember that while brushing your teeth is the most important step, you also need to floss and use a high-quality mouthwash. You should floss in the morning, at night and at any time when there is something stuck in your teeth. Make sure to floss between all of your teeth completely and go all the way to the back of your mouth.
Next, you want to use a mouthwash as the last step. Choose one that helps to prevent plaque formation to keep your breath fresh and your mouth clean throughout the day. This also works to remove debris left over from brushing and flossing.
If you do not like to floss or feel that you are just net getting good results from flossing, look at the Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser. This will use a stream of water to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth so that they cannot fester and lead to cavities and gum disease. Waterpiks are really easy to use and it is easy to get to your back teeth for a full cleaning.
Common Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth
When you are brushing your teeth, you want to make sure that you are doing it right since good oral hygiene is so critical. There are 10 mistakes that are commonly made that you want to avoid to ensure that you get the most out of your tooth brushing routine:
- Wrong toothbrush: Your toothbrush has to fit properly in your hand and mouth to ensure optimal comfort and adequate cleaning. There are manual and electric toothbrush available in the market. Choose one that fits you. Do not just buy one randomly, make proper research before choosing one. You can choose one of the best sonicare toothbrush for best result.
- Brushing only in the morning: Many people only brush once in the morning and that is it. Two times a day is ideal. Three times a day is even better. Do not make the mistake of brushing only once.
- Be gentle: You want to brush well, but never press too hard because this can damage your gums and tooth enamel. Modern electric toothbrushes have a pressure sensor, which alarms you when you press too hard on your gums. This comes in handy if you are like me. 😛
- Using the same routine: Instead of brushing in the same way every time, start on the opposite side of your mouth each time you brush. Most of the time the back of your teeth doesn’t get enough brushing. Try to brush those areas first sometimes.
- Wrong technique: You should only brush up and down since side brushing can scrape the gums.
- Using the wrong products: You want to use products that address your dental needs and are not overly abrasive.
- Brushing immediately after eating: Since many things you eat can soften your enamel, you should brush 30 minutes after eating and not immediately after.
- You store your toothbrush in the bathroom: You should instead put your toothbrush in a place that is clean, cool and dry.
- You do not clean your toothbrush: You should clean your toothbrush after every use and change it after 3-4 months.
- You use an old toothbrush: Every three to four months, you should purchase a new toothbrush. This is a very common mistake that most of the people make.
You should choose a toothbrush that provides the best and most thorough clean. In today’s world, this often means choosing an electric toothbrush since it helps to loosen plaque and debris so that it is easier to brush it away. Two popular electric toothbrush options include the Philips Sonicare HX5610/30 Essence 5600 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush and the BLACK 6500 SmartSeries Electric Rechargeable Power Toothbrush.
Consequences of Not Properly Brushing Your Teeth
When you do not brush your teeth properly, there are several health issues that you have to be concerned about that affect your dental health, as well as your overall health. The two primary reasons that you have to brush properly are to prevent the accumulation of dental plaque and tartar. These are described as the following:
- Plaque: This is a type of deposit that is white and soft. It occurs between the teeth and on the teeth surface. It occurs as a result of saliva and food combining with the bacteria in the mouth. There are a number of different bacteria types present in plaque.
- Tartar: Tartar occurs when plaque hardens and calcifies. It is sticky and you typically need to have a professional dental cleaning to adequately remove it. There’s a toothpaste available for tartar removal, which works great.
Tooth decay and cavities is the first problem that usually occurs when someone does not brush their teeth properly. This occurs when the enamel of a tooth develops a hole. Plaque buildup is the primary cause of cavities because the plaque and bacteria react with food starches and sugars, forming acids. The plaque keeps the acids against your teeth, resulting in the tooth enamel starting to dissolve, resulting in the hole.
Gum disease can result in tooth loss in the most advanced stages and plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. Either gum inflammation or infection occur with this disease. The most common gum disease is gingivitis and there are a number of different types. Periodontitis can occur if someone has gingivitis and they do not get it treated. When this occurs, the gum tissue that connects the gums and teeth is affected.
Enamel erosion is another common problem and once enamel is gone, it is gone forever. When acid is frequently in contact with the teeth, this slowly erodes the enamel. Once enough enamel is gone and the tooth is exposed, you can experience significant tooth sensitivity.
In addition to your dental health, your overall health can suffer if you do not properly brush your teeth and attend to your dental hygiene. The following are possible in people with poor oral hygiene:
- Increased risk of stroke and heart attack
- Potential for respiratory problems
- Increased risk of dementia
- Potential for erectile dysfunction
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Increased risk of premature birth
- Increased risk of cancer, especially kidney, blood and pancreatic cancers
- Other infertility problems
With proper brushing and oral hygiene, as well as maintaining strong levels of healthy bacteria, you can ensure optimal dental health. Consider Probiotics for Oral & Dental Health – Targets Bad Breath at its Source to help promote good levels of healthy bacteria to fight against the bad bacteria and plaque that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.
How to Choose a Good Toothbrush and Toothpaste
There are hundreds of toothbrushes to choose from on any given day and dozens of types of toothpaste, making it overwhelming to find a duo that best suits your needs. When it comes to picking a toothbrush, make sure that the head is flexible so that it conforms to your teeth. This ensures a proper clean and it is true for both electric and manual toothbrushes. You also want firm bristles, but they should not be so firm that they cause gum discomfort.
With toothpaste, you want an option that is proven to clean and protect your teeth and gums. It should provide a thorough cleaning while also protecting your mouth against plaque and bacteria. Your toothpaste should also work to protect your enamel.
You always want to have enough toothpaste around so that you can brush enough time each day for the right amount of time. Save a few dollars and always have a backup when you get the Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste Twin Pack. This ensures that you always have enough toothpaste and that you have a brand that is proven to ensure optimal oral health.
Brushing your teeth properly is critical for optimal dental health. Skimping on this part of your dental hygiene routine can have dire consequences, as you can see. You now know exactly what it takes to keep your teeth and mouth clean and healthy. Make sure to brush for the proper amount of time every time and to never skip a brushing. Remember that skipping just one brushing or not brushing for a long enough time allows plaque and bacteria to accumulate in your mouth. This puts you at risk for a number of dental conditions that can be painful and progressive.
Let us know how long you brush in the comment section below.