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Five Steps to Brushing Teeth the Right Way

It almost never fails; you go to the dentist, and no matter how well you think you’re doing,  they tell you that you need to brush more or floss or use more mouthwash. 

Is there any way to brush your teeth so that your dentist will be satisfied? It turns out there is, and most experts recommend a few steps to brushing teeth. We’ll tell you more about them in the paragraphs below.

1. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

Most dentists will recommend using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is useful because it works in tandem with saliva. Saliva protects your teeth by putting a layer of calcium and phosphate on top of your teeth, both of which are active ingredients in enamel.

Fluoride combines with these elements to strengthen the defense. It’s like taking armor and then wearing another suit of armor over it. For this reason, it’s one of the most important steps to brushing teeth.

You have to brush every day to keep it working, but it adds a layer of protection. One thing to note, you should never swallow fluoride. It’s not dangerous in small amounts, but almost everything is poisonous if you take in too much of it.

2. Brush in Circles

You may have heard before that you’re supposed to brush in circles, but why is that? The primary reason is to get rid of the plaque and its components.

Plaque is a substance known as a microbial film, which is a substance that provides a home for several different types of bacteria. Plaque is made up of four main ingredients: saliva, tiny bits of food, carbohydrates, and bacteria.

So how does this relate to brushing in little circles? It turns out that brushing in straight lines can lead to holes being worn into the enamel, which can trap food or other ingredients of plaque.

Brushing in circles pushes many of these ingredients away from your gums and off your teeth altogether. Keep in mind, you’ll need to angle the brush away from the gums to get the full effect.

3. Brush the Back of Your Teeth

It’s easy to forget, but you need to brush the back of your teeth as well. In this case, out of sight does not mean out of trouble. 

Try to brush the backs of your teeth the same way as the fronts, in circles and pushing away from the gums.

4. Brush Your Tongue

It’s a good idea to brush your tongue after you finish with your teeth. Some would also suggest brushing the sides and roof of your mouth. 

Not only can these areas also hold bacteria and other plaque ingredients, but brushing them might also freshen your breath.

5. Floss, Rinse and Clean Your Toothbrush

Not everybody flosses and not everybody rinses with mouthwash, but either one can do your teeth some good. One thing you should always do, however, is clean your toothbrush.

A dirty toothbrush can expose your mouth to even more germs, so it needs to be kept clean and dry. You can’t keep a toothbrush clean forever, though, so you should be replacing it about twice per year.

The Best Steps to Brushing Teeth

In the paragraphs above, we’ve listed five important steps to brushing teeth. Keep in mind that while brushing teeth isn’t that complex, a lot of the science behind it and dental health as a whole is. If you’re interested in this subject, we encourage you to do more research on your own.

One great place to start is on our website. We can give you advice about tooth sensitivity, what it is and how to treat it.

(09/22/2022)
by Dupont Dental

More Information: https://dupontdental.com/teeth-brushing-101-5-steps-to-brushing-teeth-the-right-way/

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