First, choose a good toothbrush. You should use a soft brush with a small head. A soft brush is hard enough to remove plaque, yet gentle enough not to damage your teeth or gums. Next, select good toothpaste. In general, any toothpaste that contains fluoride will do the job, unless you have special needs determined by your dentist. Two of the best brands of toothpaste are Colgate Total and Crest Multicare.
The first rule of brushing is to start from a specific location and work your way to the opposite side, continuing all the way through the whole mouth. This way you won’t miss any area. Usually a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is enough. An adequate brushing should take at least 2 minutes and preferably around 4 minutes.
Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle toward the teeth. Gently press against the gums so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth. Then apply a few lateral strokes and roll the brush down to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. Repeat this motion 6 to 10 times and move on to the next area of 2 to 3 teeth. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth. When brushing the back side of your front teeth, hold your brush vertically to be able to reach the teeth better.
Ideally you want to brush your teeth after each meal. But if you can’t, brush at least twice a day – after breakfast and before going to bed. For more information on how to brush your teeth, we welcome you to contact us at Anderson Lane Dental. Our friendly dentists in Austin, Texas, Dr. Pevow and Dr. Robbins, are happy to help.
