Tooth Brushing – Cleaning your Teeth and Gums

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Tooth Brushing

In all reality proper dental care boils down to removing plaque from your teeth and gums by a daily routine of brushing thoroughly twice a day, as well as, floss before going to bed.

Then add a twice yearly trip to the dentist for a check-up to carry out a full dental examination and you will be able to honestly say you are doing all you can to look after your own teeth.

If you are brushing your teeth and just going through the motions without much thought or dedication to the process, you could in fact be doing more harm than good by damaging your gums and leaving a large degree of plaque behind.

Also if you're not flossing to remove the plaque you missed while brushing, your teeth may slowly be decaying.

The best person to issue you with advice about a tooth brushing method is your dentist.

Gum care treatment and cleaning teeth - there are several ways. 

The method you use should be based on your mouth and your age. In addition to advising you on the right method for your mouth, the dentist can demonstrate the proper brushing technique and answer any questions you may have.

If we are honest most people’s dental care routine lasts about 30 seconds.

First they load up their toothbrush with toothpaste, stick the brush inside their mouth, and then aggressively brush their front teeth with a quick back and forth motion. If they are in the mood they might add a bit of brushing to their hard to reach back teeth, spit and rinse, and then consider the job over and done.

For the main part, there are two problems with making a habit of this neglectful practice.

First and foremost the harsh brushing back and forth along the gum line will certainly over time damage this sensitive area.

Brushing in this way can cause gums to recede and wear if it is done like this continually. Also it is certain to cause the root surfaces to become exposed. Secondly thirty seconds is no where long enough to do the job properly.

A thorough teeth cleaning session should last between 2 to 3 minutes.

The proper way to brush teeth and gums is by concentrating on just a few teeth at a time and moving the brush in a circular or elliptical motion on both the outside and the inside surfaces.

This technique will protect against gum damage and will ensure that all teeth are covered. It is all important to make sure all the surfaces of the teeth are brushed, especially your molars to remove any trapped food particles.

Also don't forget to brush your tongue as bacteria love to live there too causing bad breath.

Dentists recommend you use a toothbrush with soft to medium bristles preferably made from nylon as these are gentler on both your teeth and gums.

The bristles should have rounded edges and the head of the brush should be no more than an inch long. 

Also remember not to use the same toothbrush for any longer than 3 months because once it gets used past this time the bristles will begin to flare, making tooth brushing less efficient. 

When you replace your toothbrush, date it on the calendar if you have to, to remind yourself when it needs replacing again.

Strictly speaking your teeth should be cleaned after every meal but that is not always possible so brushing morning and night is the most reasonable habit to get into. 

Words of caution though, don’t brush more than this as you will wear away the enamel on your teeth and possibly do damage to your gums as well. 

It is essential to develop a tooth brushing routine.

By repeating the same motions in the same order each time you brush, you'll have a better chance of removing all the plaque.

When it comes to choosing toothpaste, the brand or type really doesn't matter too much but make sure it contains fluoride and that the package bears the seal of approval of your countries Dental Association which in the US is the American Dental Association (ADA).