How To Properly Brush Your Teeth And Why It Is Important

By Lawrence Temidayo & Goroti Samuel 

Brushing your teeth is an essential part of your routine dental care that cannot be over-emphasized. For a healthy mouth and smile, it is recommended that you:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-textured toothbrush for children less than 6 years of age. Children older than 6 years can brush with medium-textured toothbrush. This includes adults. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth allowing you to reach all areas adequately.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are worn out. A worn-out toothbrush will not do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Make sure to use fluoride containing toothpaste. This is because fluoride is an essential mineral or ion in the development of the teeth, as it locks calcium in and very protective mineral against the formation of holes or cavities in the teeth. Examples of these toothpastes include Oral-B, Pepsodent, Close-up, Colgate, Oracare.
•  Children below 6 years of age are supervised while brushing to prevent swallowing of the toothpaste. Furthermore, peanut sized toothpaste should be spread on the toothbrush. 

Brushing your teeth properly will help to prevent conditions such as gingivitis, tooth decay, and periodontitis. If you are not brushing right with an age-specific toothbrush, you might be causing tooth abrasion or even damaging your gums.

THE PROPER WAY TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH

From breaking down food to toothy greeting smiles, your pearly whites play an important role in daily life. Take care of them by implementing these teeth-brushing tips.

ü  Step 1: Start with the outer surfaces of your teeth. Take your time! Gently brush upper and then lower teeth. Going tooth by tooth can help you slow down and not miss any spots.

ü  Step 2: Tilt your brush at a 45° angle. Brush against the gumline to get rid of any trapped plaque or food debris. Gently move the brush back and forth using short, tooth-wide strokes.

ü  Step 3: Brush the inner surface of your teeth. Because the insides of your teeth are not as visible, skipping them is tempting – but these inner surfaces are just as vulnerable to plaque. Use a 45° angle to brush back and forth to clean the inside surfaces of the teeth.

ü  Step 4: Clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Don't forget to use short back and forth strokes to brush the tops of your back teeth, where food can easily get trapped. 

ü  Step 5: Brush your tongue. For fresher breath, brush your tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria. 

Dear reader, I know many of us grew up learning the scrub technique of brushing – scrubbing across the outer and inner surfaces of the tooth. Inculcating these new steps may be a bit herculean but with constant practice, we will be able to attain sound oral hygiene. Of course, brushing your teeth is only a part of a complete dental care routine. You should also make sure to:

• Clean between teeth using a dental floss daily once a day. Tooth decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Eat balanced diet that limits sugary beverages and snacks.
• See your dentist at least once every 6 months for prevention and treatment of oral disease.