First, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head because the hard-bristled ones might end up damaging your teeth or gums. Then select a fluoride toothpaste, unless you have special needs that are determined by your dentist.

 

Take a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and start brushing from a specific location and work your way to the opposite side, continuing all the way through the whole mouth so that you end where you started. This way you won't miss any area. An adequate brushing should at least take 2 minutes and preferably around 4 minutes. 

 

There are a variety of techniques for brushing your teeth, but one of the most popular ones is by holding the brush at a 45-degree angle toward the teeth and gums. Gently press against the gums, so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth. Then apply a few lateral strokes and roll down the brush to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. Repeat this motion 6 to 10 times and move on to the next area of 2 to 3 teeth. If your mouth is full of foam, spit it out and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth, not when your mouth is full! On chewing surfaces, short strokes work best to get the plaque out of the grooves and pits. When brushing the back side of your front teeth, hold your brush vertically to be able to reach the teeth better.

 

As far as the frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally, you should brush your teeth after each meal. But if you can't, brush at least twice a day- morning and night.

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If you have any questions about toothbrush and brushing techniques and you live in or around Glendale or the downtown Phoenix area, give us a call today!