Mangat Dental Center in San Jose
Oral Health: How to Brush
The first step is choosing a good toothbrush and toothpaste. A soft brush with a small head is your best choice. A soft brush is hard enough to remove plaque, yet gentle enough not to damage your teeth or gums.
In general, any toothpaste that contains Fluoride will do the job unless you have special needs, which will be determined between you and your dentist. Two of the best brands of toothpastes are Colgate Total and Crest Multicare.
Generally, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is adequate. Brushing should take at least 2 to 4 minutes. Ideally, you want to brush after each meal, but if you can’t, brushing twice a day will go a long way towards a great smile!
When brushing, start from one side of your mouth and work to the opposite side, continuing all the way throughout your whole mouth. You don’t want to miss any areas, so ensure you end up right where you started.
The most popular brushing technique is:
- Hold 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.
- Next, 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 out and continue brushing.
- 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.
- Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth, not when your mouth is full!
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