Safe and effective tooth brushing techniques are crucial not only to keep your smile looking clean and bright for longer, but also to avoid gum damage that can lead to premature tooth loss.
If you feel like you might not be brushing your teeth properly, here’s our guide to some of the best tooth brushing techniques to help polish your smile back to its natural whiteness.
Choose your weapon
First of all, make sure you choose a toothbrush that feels comfortable to use and is a good fit for your mouth.
That depends on a few different factors. If you have a fairly small mouth, you might prefer to use a toothbrush with a smaller head.
An angled or flexible neck can also play a part in reaching the far nooks and crannies around your teeth and gums, especially when brushing the back of your teeth.
Replace it regularly
Unfortunately, toothbrushes do wear out – so if you find a favourite make and model, remember what it’s called so you can replace it like-for-like.
The positive side of this is that there are always new innovations coming on to the market, and a new toothbrush will almost always clean your teeth better than an old one.
Keep a mental note of when you last replaced your toothbrush and, especially if the bristles are starting to splay out or feel soft, don’t delay when buying a new one.
Under pressure
Don’t press down when cleaning your teeth – if your toothbrush is in good condition there should be no need to scrub your teeth clean.
Instead, aim for just the tips of the bristles to make light contact with your teeth and let the toothpaste do the rest by loosening any debris and polishing the surface.
You’ll find cleaning your teeth much more comfortable this way and you should suffer less from bleeding gums, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss by damaging the connective tissue.
Cleaning dentures
The best practice for cleaning dentures can depend on the type of dentures you have, so if you’re not sure, ask your denture clinic or dentist for advice.
In many cases, it’s as simple as giving your dentures a light brushing with a suitable cleaning paste (not conventional toothpaste) and storing them in a container overnight.
You usually don’t need to put modern false teeth in a glass of water on the bedside table – like toothbrush technology, contemporary dentures have come a long way too.
At Smiles & More we welcome any questions as part of our aftercare service for patients, as we want to make sure your mouth – and your smile – stay in good health for as long as possible. Contact your nearest clinic or fill in the Ask Gary form on our website.