Oral hygiene is the foundation of good dental health. Brushing and flossing regularly is the best way to keep your smile healthy and clean. Consider this your personal tutorial on the art of dental hygiene, instructed by Seattle dentist Dr. Daniel McKay and the skillful hygienists at McKay Center for Cosmetic and General Dentistry.
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss & Mouthwash
Before we talk technique, we need to make sure you have the right tools for the job. You’re going to need a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and floss. Pick whatever floss is most comfortable for you and any toothpaste that you like, provided it has fluoride. Mouthwash is not required, but some people really like the extra health boost you get from a good swish and gargle.
How do you pick a good toothbrush?
- Always go with soft bristles. Medium or hard bristles can damage enamel.
- Choose a brush that fits your mouth. The head of the brush should be small enough to reach all the way behind your back teeth and fit comfortably in your mouth and hand.
- Electric toothbrushes are fine, but you can achieve the same results with a regular toothbrush if you know how to brush like a pro.
- Remember to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, every time you get over a cold, or whenever the bristles start to look mangled.
Floss Like a Boss
Dr. McKay reminds us to floss before brushing. That way you can ensure that the particles and bacteria unearthed during flossing will be removed during the expert brushing session that follows. Make sure to floss at least once a day.
- Wrap about 18 inches of floss around your two index fingers, with most of it on one finger.
- Work the floss in between two teeth, wrap it around the back tooth and work it up and down several times. Then, repeat with the front tooth.
- Make sure you don’t “snap” the floss because this can injure your gums.
- As you get to each tooth, let out a little more floss and wrap it around the finger, tightening the slack. This will avoid putting the nasty stuff from one tooth back between two other teeth.
Expert Brushing Techniques
We’ve talked toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste, so now it’s time to teach the fine folks of Seattle how to brush like a dentist. Here we go!
- Brush at least twice a day. The best times are before breakfast and right before bed.
- Don’t overdo it on the toothpaste. You only need a pea-sized dollop. Any more than that will make your mouth unpleasantly foamy and increase your chances of swallowing fluoride, which is not good for your health.
- Brush for at least two minutes. The most common mistake is not brushing long enough. Using a stopwatch, hourglass, or just humming a song can help you stay on track. There are even smartphone apps available to keep you on track!
- Start with your brush on your gum line at a 45-degree angle.
- Brush up and down and/or in a circular motion, but NOT across.
- Don’t brush too hard! Brushing harder doesn’t make up for not brushing long enough. In fact, brushing too hard can damage enamel and even injure gums enough to cause painful gum recession and exposure of tooth roots.
- Make sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth – that means front, back, sides, corners, and chewing surfaces. If you divide your brushing time into 30 seconds for each side of the upper and lower teeth, you stand a much better chance of covering all of your bases.
- Brush your tongue. The worst of bad breath-causing bacteria live on your tongue.
- Rinse out your mouth, rinse off your brush, use a little mouthwash if you like, and pack it in.
- Pat yourself on the back for brushing the right way and giving yourself the excellent oral care you deserve!
If you have any questions or would like to come in for professional cleaning, contact us today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
