Brushing your teeth.
You’ve done it every day since you were tall enough to see in the mirror. It’s something you do on autopilot, as part of your daily routine. Something you’ve had a lot of practice at over the years. So you’d assume, by now, you’re pretty good at it?
Unfortunately not.
In fact, most people are pretty bad at it – and their brushing technique could certainly do with some improvement. Which may explain why the phrase ‘How to brush your teeth’ is typed into Google around 1800 times every single month – in the UK alone.
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As a leading family dentist in St Helens, we treat every generation – from tiny babies and toddlers through to adults and seniors – and we advise the same technique for everyone.
Here are a few tips from our dental hygiene experts.
Brush up on the basics and ensure you’re brushing those pearly whites properly.
5 tips to brush your teeth like a pro
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Choose your time wisely
Rule no.1 – never brush your teeth immediately after breakfast.
Breakfast foods are notoriously high in sugars and acids. These can cause a pH imbalance in your mouth. And if you brush too soon – before it’s had a chance to neutralise – you risk damaging the enamel. So, after you’ve finished your avocado on toast, it’s best to wait at least 30 minutes.
In the evening, the best time to brush is just before you go to bed. That way, the toothpaste left over will remain on your teeth and protect them overnight – when saliva production is at its lowest.
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Keep it dry
Dry brushing is the recommended technique for both adults and children.
It’s simple – just don’t add water.
As tempting as it can be to wet your toothbrush under the tap, this will only dilute the fluoride in your toothpaste and make it much harder for it to do its job. To get the best ‘preventative’ results, always apply your toothpaste directly onto a dry brush and resist that urge to rinse it first.
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Pea-sized is perfect
Most people tend to use lots of toothpaste. The more, the merrier – right? Wrong.
All you need is a pea-sized amount – no more, no less.
For both adults and children, it’s important to use a fluoride toothpaste, which contains at least 1350ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. But as long as you’re using the correct brushing technique and can cover the entire surface area of your teeth and gum line, a small blob is more than enough.
The only exception to this is for children aged 3 and under, who only require a tiny smear of toothpaste on their baby toothbrush.
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Brush at 45˚
Forget about the just-put-in-your-mouth-and-look-busy method.
There’s a correct way to brush your teeth.
Insert your toothbrush at about a 45˚ angle to your gums. Then, use a gentle circular motion and brush back and forth – in short (tooth-wide) strokes – to remove plaque and debris.
Work your way around your mouth tooth by tooth. And remember to tackle both the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth and the gum line. Make sure you get to the back molars, as well as the upper chewing surfaces – as food can very easily get trapped in these areas and is easy to miss.
Continue for a minimum of 2 minutes. And try not to brush too hard! This is a common mistake, but it can be very damaging. Applying too much pressure – especially with a firmer-bristled brush – will not only cause trauma to the soft tissue of the gums, but can also wear away your enamel over time.
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Don’t rinse
Once your 2 minutes are up and you’ve finished brushing, simply spit out the excess toothpaste.
You should never rinse your mouth with water immediately after brushing. Again, this will wash away or dilute the concentrated fluoride that you’ve left behind and reduce its preventative effects.
Just rinse your toothbrush under the tap, store it in an upright position and allow it to fully air dry.
Get one-to-one advice at our family dental practice
Want to be confident that you’re brushing your teeth correctly?
The best option is to pop into our St Helens dental practice.
As a leading family dentist in St Helens, we offer routine check-ups for all ages – including adults and children. During which, we can assess your overall oral health, identify any issues that have arisen due to poor brushing techniques and provide tailored advice and tips on how to improve.
Our team of dental hygienists can also provide a range of professional teeth cleaning treatments. All of which are quick and painless, and a great way to bolster your teeth cleaning routine – ensuring you maintain a happy, healthy and bright smile.
To book an appointment, simply use our online booking system and choose a time and date that works for you. Or if you have any questions – about how to brush your teeth properly or the family dental care available at our practice – you’re always welcome to get in touch.
Either call us on 01744 25776 or send an email to info@kilnlanedental.co.uk and a member of the team will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.