Brushing Your Teeth The Right Way

The most fundamental part of any oral health routine is brushing your teeth. From the time you were a child, you were taught to brush your teeth for two minutes, at least two times a day. However, you might be surprised to find that these aren't the only factors associated with a good brushing routine. An effective brushing routine actually involves more.

Wait Thirty Minutes

Most people have been taught to brush their teeth right after eating. However, did you know that you can brush your teeth too soon after eating? This is especially true when it comes to consuming foods or beverages that have a high acidic or sugar content, such as orange juice. When consuming these foods and beverages, it's best to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.

The reason for this is that the acids and sugars in these foods begin weakening your enamel almost immediately after they come in contact with your teeth. When you brush your teeth immediately after consumption because of the enamels already weakened state, you can easily damage your teeth. Waiting to brush allows much of the acid and sugar to detach from your teeth. If you don't have the time to wait 30 minutes, use an alkaline mouth rinse to re-balance your mouth just before brushing.

Angles Matter

When it comes to brushing your teeth, the common rule is to hold your toothbrush at a 90-degree angle, while making small circles. Brushing in this manner is thought to help ensure that you reach the entire surface area of your teeth. However, when it comes to brushing the area around your gum line, you need to make some adjustments. While you still want to create a small circle pattern, you want to turn your tooth brush to a 45-degree angle.

Brushing around the gum line with your brush at a 90-degree angle won't allow you to get in the area underneath your gum. The area underneath can be a dangerous harboring zone for both bacteria and food. As debris get trapped underneath the gum line, this increases your risk for gum disease. Simply tilting the brush to a 45-degree angle allows the bristles to reach underneath your gums, keeping them cleaner and healthier.

Not just brushing, but proper brushing is key to keeping your teeth healthy. Ask a dentist like Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA to make certain you are taking the time to brush your teeth correctly.