Many people maintain a frequency of brushing their teeth once in the morning and once in the evening. Some even use dental floss for cleaning, but still have problems with dental calculus. According to Dr. Huang Wenlong, “brushing teeth” does not mean “brushing teeth correctly“. If you do not pay attention to the details when brushing your teeth, you can only clean up to 50% of the area. This is leaving many food residues hidden in the mouth, which can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Mastering 4 ways to do brushing right will reduce gum damage
Doctor teaches four toothbrushing techniques to increase tooth defense and reduce the risk of tooth decay. Many people simply don’t know how to do brushing right, especially children. If you have kids, ask them if they know those rules. Those are very simple steps to follow:
- Choose a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. A soft-bristled toothbrush can reduce the stimulation to the teeth and gums and prevent gum injury. A smaller brush head can make it easier to enter the interdental spaces and brush more thoroughly;
- Brush the teeth at a 45-degree angle. When brushing the teeth at this angle, the bristles can better enter the gaps and remove food residue that is difficult to clean. It can also avoid excessive brushing that may cause gum damage. Don’t forget that brushing teeth too hard causes gum damage!
- Use the back half of the toothbrush to clean the inside. The inside of the oral cavity is often difficult to clean properly. If you use the front half of the toothbrush to brush the inside, it is easy to miss some areas due to incorrect angle. However, using the back half of the toothbrush can make it easier to enter the interdental spaces and brush more thoroughly;
- Use fluoride toothpaste. Many studies have shown that fluoride can effectively prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can interfere with the metabolic process of oral bacteria and reduce the occurrence of tooth decay. For children under the age of six, they can also visit the dentist every six months for free fluoride treatment to double the protection of their teeth.
Toothbrushes should be replaced regularly to avoid bacteria and prevent infections
Doctors also recommend that in addition to mastering the toothbrushing techniques, toothbrushes should be replaced every three months. Do not try to save money by not changing the toothbrush. If the toothbrush is left for too long, it can breed pathogens, and brushing with it may introduce bacteria and viruses, which can lead to illness.
Also, toothbrush can damage gums if it was incorrectly chosen. If you feel uncomfortable with your current one, replace it with another that matches your expectations. Start doing toothbrushing right and you’ll be happy with the results.