With proper dental hygiene and routine oral checkups your teeth should last a lifetime, but many people don’t understand what the best brushing technique is. There are several methods for brushing your teeth ranging from long slow strokes to circular strokes in small areas and each of these can get some debris and plaque off of your teeth. However, studies have shown that short, light strokes are the best way to get your teeth clean. Using shorter strokes over the whole surface for at least two minutes along with flossing is the best way to ensure your teeth are clean.
Another problem that some people have is vigorous brushing also known as over brushing. The reduce the buildup of plaque and tarter include the loss of enamel and bruising of the gum. Over brushing can also force the gum away from the teeth and expose the root area. This can lead to periodontal disease and even cavities on the tooth’s root. Tooth decay is caused by the buildup of plaque. This is a soft layer of bacteria and food particles that coat the teeth. Plaque is fairly easy to remove because it is soft, but when plaque isn’t removed from the teeth it can turn into tartar which is a hard substance that can’t be removed by brushing. You will see tartar on the teeth as the off-white coating on the bottom of the teeth around the top of the gum.
While brushing is important, it is not the only steps that you need to take to ensure your teeth last a lifetime. Rinsing, flossing and regular dental checkups are important tools in your fight against tooth decay. In fact, the importance of flossing cannot be stressed enough. Floss is a thin strand of fibers which may or may not be coated in wax. It is used to reach those areas of the teeth that a brush doesn’t.
Proper flossing of your teeth can help eliminate plaque and ensure your teeth don’t develop cavities. It doesn’t matter which order that you brush and floss in. You may even prefer to do a light brushing, floss the teeth and then finish brushing just to be sure the teeth are really clean. The most important aspect of brushing is the duration. You need to spend several minutes scrubbing your teeth to ensure they are really clean. Just remember that you don’t want to press the brush too hard and that you do want to use short, scrubbing motions and plenty of toothpaste and water.
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