The Art of Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth may seem like an intuitive activity, but sometimes people miss important steps without even realizing it. As the best dentist in the Springfield area, Access Dental has some great tips to help improve your toothbrushing habits and improve your oral health. Read on to learn more, and call us today to schedule a cleaning appointment for an even brighter smile!

Amount of Toothpaste

Many people don’t realize how little toothpaste you need. Too much toothpaste can cause extra abrasion to your teeth’s enamel, damaging your teeth. It can also leave white spots on the surface of your teeth from too much fluoride – a condition called fluorosis.

The recommended amount of toothpaste to use is merely a pea-sized drop. This amount helps clean off bacteria and buildup without being too aggressive to the surface of your teeth. For kids with developing teeth, the suggested amount is even smaller. Use just a smear or rice-sized amount for small children.

How Long to Brush

Some people brush their teeth absent-mindedly while performing other morning chores and don’t know how long they typically spend brushing. They may even get distracted and need both hands for a task and pause their tooth brushing. What seems like an adequate amount of time could be too short.

Two minutes is the optimal amount of time to brush your teeth. This comes to about 30 seconds for each side (top right, top left, bottom right, and bottom left). To help keep yourself on track, try to avoid performing other parts of your morning routine while brushing your teeth. Get a fun sand timer for your bathroom or choose a two-minute song to start your morning off on the right foot.

Where to Focus

It can be easy to get into a routine of absentmindedly brushing your teeth without realizing you’re regularly missing places. Some people commonly miss the inner sides of their teeth. Plaque can build up on the back of your front incisors as a result of incomplete tooth brushing habits. Remember that every surface of your teeth exposed to food and drink needs regular cleaning – not just the surfaces you see when you smile.

Technique

Did you know that there are several different tooth brushing techniques? Side-to-side, up-to-down, and circular are some of the more common styles. Side-to-side can feel the most natural and easiest, but it’s not always the most effective method. Brushing up-to-down or in a circular motion can help remove plaque and foreign materials rather than simply pushing them around.

Schedule a Cleaning

These tooth brushing techniques can help keep your teeth cleaner and more protected. Be mindful of the amount of toothpaste you use, brush for two uninterrupted minutes, make sure you cover all surfaces of your teeth, and brush the plaque down and away from your gums with a circular or up-to-down technique.

Remember to also schedule regular teeth cleanings with the best Springfield area dentist at Access Dental to remove buildup that your toothbrush can’t get for a healthier, whiter smile!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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