Brushing your teeth removes food particles and harmful oral bacteria to keep your mouth clean and healthy. We often talk about the importance of brushing your teeth at least twice a day, but do you really know how to properly brush? Ask the hygienists at Brighton Family Dental Group for help choosing the best oral hygiene products and routine for your mouth.
How to Brush Your Teeth
Use this step-by-step guide to help keep your pearly whites sparkling.
- Run water over your toothbrush to soften the bristles.
- Apply a pea-sized amount of a fluoridated toothpaste onto the bristles.
- Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush the surfaces of your teeth gently using a circular motion. Start on one side of your mouth and brush each tooth for 5-10 seconds until you reach the other side.
- Turn the toothbrush parallel to your gums to gently brush along your gum line.
- After brushing the outer surfaces of your teeth, angle the brush so you can comfortably reach the inside and chewing surfaces.
- Be sure to brush all upper and lower teeth, your tongue, your gums, and the roof of your mouth.
- Once you finish brushing all your teeth, go back over certain teeth, if necessary. The correct brushing process should take about three minutes to effectively clean your teeth.
- Spit out the toothpaste and rinse your mouth with water.
- Rinse extra debris and toothpaste off your brush and store it upright in an open environment to dry before your next use.