Are you brushing your teeth right?

Yes, you heard us. Brushing your teeth is pretty basic, but you’d be surprised of the mistakes you make. Here’s what to keep in mind while cleaning your pearly whites.

1- The toothbrush 

Picking the right brush is more important than you think. Orthodontists recommend you choose one that is the right size for your mouth, can reach all corners, and has soft bristles. Contrary to popular belief, having a hard-bristled brush doesn’t necessarily clean your teeth better. In fact, the softer the brush the more flexible it becomes, and therefore the easier it can reach all corners to eliminate plaque and germs.

While it’s important to pick the right brush, it’s also crucial to know when to give it up. Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush with a new one every 3-4 months (by then, the bristles would have worn out and lost their effect!)

2- The brushing technique

You’ve probably had days when you kind of rush into the process by either scrubbing too hard or brushing randomly. Careful – this could harm your teeth on the long run! Here’s the right technique to follow.

➊ Squeeze out a pea-sized amount of toothpaste
➋ Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line
➌ Slowly and gently massage the outer surfaces in a circular motion
➍ Move from your gums down to your teeth, in gentle ups-and-downs
➎ Lightly go back and forth on the inner chewing surfaces
➏ Brush your tongue gently, from the front and sides
➐ Clean the inner surface of your front teeth using vertical strokes

3- The waiting time

This may come as a surprise to you but: don’t brush your teeth immediately after a meal.

When you eat, the acid from food particles lingers on your teeth for about 15 to 20 minutes before saliva kicks in and eliminates it. If you’re brushing while the acid’s still present, you may trigger it to erode the surface of your teeth.

Because of that, it’s better to wait a good 15 to 20 minutes before grabbing your toothbrush! If you (really) can’t wait, go ahead and rinse your mouth with cool water right after a meal.

4- The full routine

Every day, make sure you go through at least one complete ‘cleaning’ session. This means brushing for a full 2-minutes, followed by flossing and rinsing. In between, a quick water rinsing and tooth picking will also do wonders. This daily routine will ensure that the bacteria won’t thrive and tooth decay won’t settle in.