Brushing your teeth is not a chore. It’s the key to a happy and healthy smile, and no one wants dull and unclean teeth. Especially when bad oral hygiene can lead to bleeding gums, bad breath or worse, your teeth falling out (yikes!)
Truthfully, very few of us brush our teeth as well as we could, as easy as we might think it is. But thankfully, we’ve written this blog to ensure our readers are up to date on their teeth brushing skills.
Tip 1: Use the right brush
Didn’t realise that this is a thing? Well, it is and we’re here to tell you exactly what kind of toothbrush you should be buying on your next trip to the local supermarket.
The main thing you should be looking for is a medium bristled brush. Why? Because medium bristles can bend and get right under the gum for that extra deep clean.
Tip 2: Brush with the right amount of pressure
Unfortunately, in this case, harder isn’t better and people often make the mistake of scrubbing their teeth too hard. The plaque you are trying to get rid of is actually soft and loose, so you only really have to ‘massage’ it away.
Tip 3: Don’t rush/ take your time
You’re late for school or work, or you want to get to bed early, so every once in a while you cut your brushing short. Don’t. You should brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Use our mini to help! Most songs last between 2-3 minutes. So if you brush while you listen to one of your favourite songs, you’ll have brushed for long enough.
Tip 4: Regularly change your toothbrush
It’s hard to let go of a trusty toothbrush. But when it starts to look discoloured, bent, or dirty looking - it’s probably time to toss that out. Our advice is to buy a new toothbrush at least every 3 months. Side note: it’s also not a smart idea to share your brush with anyone else!
Tip 5: Brush using circular motions, don’t go side to side
It’s a common brushing no-no, but too many people are still making the same mistake. Going along your teeth, left to right, in a scrubbing motion can actually do damage to your teeth. Instead, start from the gum, and go up and down in little circular motions.
Tip 6: Brush your gum line
Bacteria loooovee to hang out where your tooth meets your gum, and we might not realise it, but we often miss that area a lot. So don’t just brush your teeth next time, brush as far under your gum as you can get to ensure those pesky germs have really gone.
Brushing your teeth well is especially important during orthodontic treatment. For more advice call us today on 0161 768 0931 or email us at info@oldhamorthodontics.co.uk