A popular question asked by my patients is, how do I know I am properly bushing my teeth? Follow these 4 quick steps to effective tooth brushing
- Floss your teeth before brushing. This is so that plaque from the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth gets dislodged too be killed when you brush.
- Use a thorough, effective technique with a slow circular motion aimed AT and BELOW the gumline, inside and out, top and bottom. Brushing too hard may abrade your gums or cause them to recede and/or bleed, while brushing too soft will do nothing to get rid of plaque/biofilm.
- When brushing the back sides of your front teeth, hold the toothbrush upright (vertical) and move it up and down along each individual tooth – both lower and upper arches. Repeat several times for each tooth.
- When you use mouthwash, use as directed on the bottle, read all instructions BEFORE using the product.
Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months.