Brushing your teeth is a vital part of any dental care routine. It guarantees a healthier, whiter, and cleaner smile. If ignored, the teeth can start to develop plaque, bacteria, gum disease, and a whole host of dental issues. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to spend time understanding the nuances of brushing your teeth and what’s “correct.”
Here are five tips to keep in mind.
Tip #1: Wait 30 Minutes Before Brushing Your Teeth After Meal
In general, foods and drinks high in sugars/carbohydrates may promote the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria will damage your tooth enamel (protective layer) for 20-30 minutes. Please note, it might seem appropriate to brush your teeth immediately but that’s not always ideal.
If you consume acidic foods/beverages such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, it’s best to avoid brushing your teeth for 30 minutes. Your tooth enamel is at its weakest state during this time and brushing may lead to unnecessary aggravation. In this case, it’s smarter to brush your teeth or drink water before consuming acidic foods. This helps cleanse the teeth and wash away pre-existing acids from previous meals.
In addition, dentists recommend the elimination of foods high in sugars or carbohydrates from your diet to prevent enamel erosion.
For example, sodas (regular and diet) are high in sugar and phosphoric acid. This can cause substantial enamel erosion and permanent damage. It’s best to limit or purge regular consumption of these soft drinks to improve your dental health.
Tip #2: Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
How many times should you brush your teeth? This is a common question and a good one to ask. In most cases, official studies indicate the bare minimum is “twice a day” to maintain good oral health.
The goal of brushing your teeth is to remove food particles and plaque (sticky white biofilm) on or between your teeth. If ignored, the teeth will start to erode, break down, and give rise to cavities. In most cases, the plaque will turn into tartar, which is significantly harder to remove.
Please remember, this should tie in with a comprehensive oral care regimen including the following steps.
- Flossing (Daily)
- Consumption of Water (At Least Eight Glasses Per Day)
- Healthier Diet (Elimination of Sugars)
- Limiting of Snacks Between Large Meals
- Reducing the length of snacking time
- Regular Dental Visits (Semi-Annual)
- Replacement of Toothbrush (3-4 Months)
This will guarantee appropriate results and make it easier to prevent tooth decay or related dental issues.
Tip #3: Brushing Teeth In Morning Is Important
When should you brush your teeth?
If a person decides to brush his/her teeth twice a day, one of those times should come in the morning. This is the best opportunity to eliminate built-up residue (plaque), tartar, and trapped food particles.
Brushing your teeth in the morning prevents “morning breath” and additional accumulation of bacteria. The bacteria gather on your teeth overnight as saliva production slows down to a crawl. Once this happens, the bacteria will spread and multiply to eat away at your enamel. If you don’t brush your teeth, the buildup will continue.
Tip #4: Eliminate Hot Drinks and Sticky Foods After Fluoride Treatment
The fluoride treatment is used to prevent tooth decay from sugars, plaque, and bacteria. This mineral helps the “remineralization” process where fluoride is redeposited to your tooth enamel.
However, patients receiving this treatment may inquire about their post-procedure eating/brushing requirements.
It’s recommended to avoid the consumption of hot beverages (coffee, tea) and sticky foods (toffees, gum, licorice, caramel) for 4-5 hours. This limits the remineralization process and strips fluoride from the surface of your teeth.
At the same time, do not brush your teeth until this period is over.
Tip #5: Brush At A 45-Degree Angle
Brushing your teeth is wonderful but what about the technique being used? Are you brushing your teeth properly?
In most cases, you’re not and that’s a major issue.
Proper brushing requires a 45-degree angle, stroking in the direction your teeth grow, instead of going straight across. Take the time to brush methodically (two minutes). If not, you’re most likely going to miss the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Each stroke should be careful, precise, and gentle. Please take the time to get close to your gumline as bacteria may settle in and lead to gingivitis/periodontitis.
Here is more on what the perfect brushing routine encompasses.
It’s in your favour to learn this and make it a part of your daily routine for optimal results. If not, plaque buildup, tartar, and bacteria will become a problem for your oral health.
Steps For Perfect Brushing Routine:
- Use Soft-Bristled Brush
- Clean Outer Surfaces of Teeth (Upper and Lower)
- Clean Inner Surfaces of Teeth (Upper and Lower)
- Brush Your Tongue
- Clean Chewing Surfaces (Upper and Lower)
The ideal brushing routine stems from the implementation of these tips. Use this advice to reshape or tweak your current regimen for increased results.
