If you want to maintain good dental health, then you need to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Brushing will disrupt the formation of plaque, a film of bacteria that collects on teeth and produces acids to eat away at enamel. Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste cleans away most of the plaque as well as the food debris that plaque uses to produce acids. It is also important that you brush your teeth correctly in order to get rid of plaque.
Most people think that a quick scrub to their smile is effective in cleaning it, but there are many curves and grooves that require a thorough cleaning. You need to brush your teeth for at least two minutes time by doing the following:
- Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gums.
- Move the toothbrush with back-and-forth strokes. These motions should be short, about the width of a tooth.
- Begin cleaning the outer surface of teeth, followed by the inner and chewing surfaces. Also start your brushing with the molars in the back of your mouth and make your way forward.
- Clean the inside surface of your front teeth by making vertical strokes.
- Brush the surface of your tongue afterwards.
When you regularly clean your teeth, you will benefit from a healthier smile. Call our dentist today if you would like more advice on maintaining oral hygiene.