It almost never fails; you go to the dentist, and no matter how well you think you’re doing,  they tell you that you need to brush more or floss or use more mouthwash. 

Is there any way to brush your teeth so that your dentist will be satisfied? It turns out there is, and most experts recommend a few steps to brushing teeth. We’ll tell you more about them in the paragraphs below.

1. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

Most dentists will recommend using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is useful because it works in tandem with saliva. Saliva protects your teeth by putting a layer of calcium and phosphate on top of your teeth, both of which are active ingredients in enamel.

Fluoride combines with these elements to strengthen the defense. It’s like taking armor and then wearing another suit of armor over it. For this reason, it’s one of the most important steps to brushing teeth.

You have to brush every day to keep it working, but it adds a layer of protection. One thing to note, you should never swallow fluoride. It’s not dangerous in small amounts, but almost everything is poisonous if you take in too much of it.

2. Brush in Circles

You may have heard before that you’re supposed to brush in circles, but why is that? The primary reason is to get rid of the plaque and its components.

Plaque is a substance known as a microbial film, which is a substance that provides a home for several different types of bacteria. Plaque is made up of four main ingredients: saliva, tiny bits of food, carbohydrates, and bacteria.

So how does this relate to brushing in little circles? It turns out that brushing in straight lines can lead to holes being worn into the enamel, which can trap food or other ingredients of plaque.

Brushing in circles pushes many of these ingredients away from your gums and off your teeth altogether. Keep in mind, you’ll need to angle the brush away from the gums to get the full effect.

3. Brush the Back of Your Teeth

It’s easy to forget, but you need to brush the back of your teeth as well. In this case, out of sight does not mean out of trouble. 

Try to brush the backs of your teeth the same way as the fronts, in circles and pushing away from the gums.

4. Brush Your Tongue

It’s a good idea to brush your tongue after you finish with your teeth. Some would also suggest brushing the sides and roof of your mouth. 

Not only can these areas also hold bacteria and other plaque ingredients, but brushing them might also freshen your breath.

5. Floss, Rinse and Clean Your Toothbrush

Not everybody flosses and not everybody rinses with mouthwash, but either one can do your teeth some good. One thing you should always do, however, is clean your toothbrush.

A dirty toothbrush can expose your mouth to even more germs, so it needs to be kept clean and dry. You can’t keep a toothbrush clean forever, though, so you should be replacing it about twice per year.

The Best Steps to Brushing Teeth

In the paragraphs above, we’ve listed five important steps to brushing teeth. Keep in mind that while brushing teeth isn’t that complex, a lot of the science behind it and dental health as a whole is. If you’re interested in this subject, we encourage you to do more research on your own.

One great place to start is on our website. We can give you advice about tooth sensitivity, what it is and how to treat it.

Learning how to properly take care of one’s oral health at a young age is necessary to having good oral health. Proper brushing habits instilled at an early age can prevent future cavities, gum disease bad breath and more. As a parent of a young child, there are some things you can do to make sure that teeth brushing is an enjoyable activity for your child.

Start Early

You can start developing a routine by cleaning your child’s gums even before his or her teeth begin to emerge. This can be done by gently washing the gumline with a sterile, soft and damp cloth or a gum massager or brusher specifically designed for the task. You can begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears using a soft bristled toothbrush and the tiniest amount of fluoride toothpaste after each feeding.

Show Them by Example

Giving children a demonstration of proper brushing technique can help them learn how to brush their teeth properly. You can do this using your teeth, or to make it a little more fun, perform the proper brushing technique on your child’s favorite doll to encourage them to do the same for their teeth. You can pretend that the doll is visiting the dentist for the first time, and in your role of a dentist, evaluate its teeth and talk about how to brush teeth properly. You can give your child the opportunity to be the dentist and remind him or her about cleaning both the front and the back of the doll’s teeth.

Finding Plaque with Disclosing Tablets

Not brushing their teeth thoroughly enough is one of the misstep children often make. To show them how brushing properly is what is needed to keep their teeth clean, you may consider buying plaque disclosing tablets. When chewed and mixed with their saliva for 30 seconds, the plaque that is present on the teeth and gumline will be turned red. Making the plaque easily visible will encourage them to work harder at removing it.

Let Your Child Choose a Toothbrush

To continue using bristles that scrub as they should and to avoid the accumulation of bacteria in the brush, it is wise to change your toothbrush as least every three months. To highlight the importance of a new toothbrush and to make the oral routine more fun, you can allow the child to choose his or her toothbrush. Many are geared specifically to children.

Reward Proper Brushing Time

The American Dental Association recommends teeth are to be gently brushed for two full minutes. Being eager to have the task over with, children may brush very quickly and hard for several seconds instead. To make sure that you child is brushing long enough, establish a reward system to give him or her an incentive.

Children who are taught a new skill at an early age are very likely to use it in adulthood. Make sure that your child learns the proper tooth brushing habits that will ensure that he or she always has long-term oral health.

With so many toothbrush options available on the market, a common question many people have is whether or not it is better for your oral health to use an electric toothbrush instead of a manual toothbrush.

What Are The Pros and Cons of a Manual Toothbrush?

A manual toothbrush will get your teeth clean enough as long as you use the right technique. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, but with a manual toothbrush, you have to keep up with that time on your own. A manual toothbrush does not require you to charge it or replace batteries from time to time. Since it does not need energy, you can use it without fear of the power running low. Additionally, it is very inexpensive. In fact, many dentists give their patients a free toothbrush at the end of each visit.

You have to replace your toothbrush every three months, but it does not cost a lot to do so. If you are traveling, you can easily take it with you without getting a charger or extra batteries. You should just get a case for it to keep it clean. One of the best pros of using a manual toothbrush, for many people, is there are so many to choose from. There are smaller ones for people with smaller mouths, soft bristles for people with sensitive teeth, and many colors including prints for children.

How Does an Electric Toothbrush Better Those Benefits?

With an electric toothbrush, you do not have work nearly as hard to get your mouth and teeth clean. It does a lot of the work for you, as long as you purchase a quality electric toothbrush. It is so easy to use, and you just have to move it across your teeth to get a good cleaning in. Another great benefit is that it has a timer built in. You no longer have to time yourself while brushing or guess if you have brushed long enough. An electric toothbrush will stop once you have hit the two-minute mark, so there are no guessing games. Overall, it is much easier to use an electric toothbrush, and if you do not use the proper technique with a manual brush, you get a much better clean with a lot less effort.

What Are Some of the Cons?

Some negative components go along with an electric toothbrush, however. One of the biggest ones that keep people from making the switch is the cost associated with it. Not only is buying the electric toothbrush expensive, but you also have to purchase new brush heads every three months which are more expensive than manual toothbrushes. If your electric toothbrush is battery powered, you also have to buy replacement batteries every time your batteries are dead. A lot of money goes into getting and maintaining an electric toothbrush. You also have to charge your toothbrush if you have one that is rechargeable. This takes time, and you may not know you need to do it until it dies on you mid-brush. It is a lot harder to travel with an electric toothbrush as well since you have to bring more with you and it can be bulky. While breaking a toothbrush does not cross your mind with a manual one, you do have to be more careful with an electric one.

In the end, the choice is yours. There are benefits to using both kinds of toothbrushes, as long as you use the proper technique. Both types allow you to get a good cleaning. You may want to talk to your dentist about it to see if they can help you make the best decision.