Just In
- 42 min ago When Will Vaishakh Month 2024 Start? Vrats And Festivals That Will Fall This Month, Complete List!
- 1 hr ago Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi 2024: Lord Ganesha Mantras To Chant On This Auspicious Day
- 9 hrs ago Backless Dress: 7 Tips For Choosing Perfect Bra For Backless Outfits And Turn Heads Wherever You Go
- 18 hrs ago Summer Style: 6 Must-Try Colors To Stay Fashionably Cool Like B-Town Divas!
Don't Miss
- Movies Entertainment LIVE Blog: Arti Singh To Tie The Knot Today; Salman Khan Poses With SLB At Heeramandi Premiere
- Finance Rs. 7.75/Share Dividend: Record Date In Due Course; Buy The TATA Group Stock?
- Sports IPL 2024 Centuries List: Full List of Hundreds of All IPL Seasons - All You Need to Know
- Education JEE Main Result 2024 Out, Telangana's 15 Toppers Shine, Check Statewise List of 56 Candidates with Perfect 100
- News Mangalsutra Row: Did Indira Gandhi Donate Gold During The 1962 War? The Facts Behind Priyanka's Claim
- Travel Escape to Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Darjeeling with IRCTC's Tour Package; Check Itinerary
- Technology OPPO Find X7 Ultra Camera Deep-Dive: Pushing the Boundaries of Photography on a Smartphone
- Automobiles Aston Martin Vantage Launched In India At Rs 3.99 Crore
How To Brush Your Teeth Correctly
Brushing your teeth regularly is an important part of your dental routine. It helps prevent conditions like tooth decay, bad breath and gingivitis. Also, flossing your teeth before brushing is important as it cleans the tiny crevices between your teeth.
Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush stimulates the gums, helps to keep them healthy and prevents bleeding of the gums.
It is recommended by the American Dental Association that one should brush their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush using an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste.
How To Brush Your Teeth Correctly
1. Choose the correct toothpaste
Wet your brush and apply a thin strip of fluoride toothpaste on it. Always choose a toothpaste which contains fluoride as it protects against cavities and prevents tooth decay.
2. Brush at the gum line at a 45-degree angle
Put your teeth together and start brushing in short, circular motion starting at the gum line at a 45-degree angle. And don't brush your teeth in a horizontal direction. Brush for 2 to 3 minutes in this way.
How To Maintain Oral Hygiene With These 6 Tips
3. Brush your upper molars
Then, start brushing on your back teeth or upper molars, on one side of the mouth and work in a clockwise direction. Work your toothbrush in an in-and-out motion and move from the back of your mouth to the front. Repeat this on the other side of the mouth.
4. Brush your lower molars
In a clockwise direction, brush your lower molars on one side of the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes. Then shift to the other side of the mouth and repeat it.
5. Brush the inside of the teeth
Open your teeth wide open and with the help of the tip of the toothbrush, brush the interior of the lower front and upper front teeth in a vertical angle. This is the most commonly skipped area.
6. Brush the tongue and inside the cheeks
You should also clean the tongue and inside of the cheeks because they also contain plaque, food particles and bacteria that make your mouth smell. With the help of a toothbrush in a gentle, circular motion, thoroughly brush your tongue, roof of the mouth and inside of the cheeks.
7. Rinse your mouth and toothbrush
Lastly, take a sip of water, swish it around your mouth and spit it out. Wash your toothbrush under running water to remove any bacteria from the brush.
Here Is How Dental Health Affects Your Overall Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many times a day should you brush your teeth?
A. It is important that you brush once in the morning after waking up and once before bedtime after completing your meal [1]
Q. How long should you brush your teeth?
A. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes twice a day. Brushing less than 2 minutes doesn't help in the reduction of plaque [2] .
Q. How long is too long for brushing teeth?
A. Oral healthcare professionals advise brushing your teeth for a minimum of two minutes, twice a day.
According to the Journal of Dental Hygiene, the effect of brushing time on plaque removal was analysed across a range of time periods. The researchers found that patients who brushed for 45 seconds removed 26% less plaque as compared to patients who brushed for 2 minutes. Patients who brushed for 30 seconds removed 55% less plaque than brushing for 3 minutes [2] .
Q. How often should you change your toothbrush?
A. The American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months as withered bristles don't keep the teeth clean or remove plaque effectively.
Q. What happens if you don't change your toothbrush?
A. Not replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months can damage your gums and teeth. Also changing your toothbrush prevents bacteria from building up in the bristles, thus keeping your gums and teeth healthy [3] .
- [1] Attin, T., & Hornecker, E. (2005). Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed?.Oral health & preventive dentistry,3(3).
- [2] Gallagher, A., Sowinski, J., Bowman, J., Barrett, K., Lowe, S., Patel, K., ... & Creeth, J. E. (2009). The effect of brushing time and dentifrice on dental plaque removal in vivo.American Dental Hygienists' Association,83(3), 111-116.
- [3] Conforti, N. J., Cordero, R. E., Liebman, J., Bowman, J. P., Putt, M. S., Kuebler, D. S., ... & Warren, P. R. (2003). An investigation into the effect of three months' clinical wear on toothbrush efficacy: results from two independent studies.The Journal of clinical dentistry,14(2), 29-33.
- wellnessReady For Thanksgiving Feast? Healthy Tips To Keep In Mind
- make up tipsEverything That You Need To Know About Eye Make-up Brushes
- make up tipsThe Dos And Don’ts Of Makeup Application
- skin care10 Surprising Reasons Why Your Skin Is Breaking Out
- wellnessHow To Prepare Your Own Mouthwash To Kill Bacteria!
- make up tipsFor Everyday Makeup, You Must Own These Types Of Makeup Brushes
- wellnessMajor Mistakes That We Make While Taking Care Of Our Teeth
- improvementPerfect Toilet Cleaning Tips You Must Know
- static pagesOral Health: Dos And Don'ts
- make up tipsComplete Guide To Makeup Brushes
- make up tipsHow To Clean Your Makeup Brushes The Right Way
- wellnessWhy You Need To Start Brushing Teeth With This Oil!