There are
a number of effective brushing techniques.
Patients are advised to check with
their dentist or hygienist to determine
which technique is best for them,
since, tooth position and gum condition
vary.One effective, easy-to-remember
technique involves using a circular
or elliptical motion to brush a
couple of teeth at a time, gradually
covering the entire mouth. Place
a toothbrush beside your teeth at
a 45-degree angle and gently brush
teeth in an elliptical motion. Brush
the outside of the teeth, inside
the teeth, your tongue and the chewing
surfaces and in between teeth. Using
a back and forth motion causes the
gum surface to recede, or can expose
the root surface or make the root
surface tender. You also risk wearing
down the gum line.Soft or hard
bristles? In general, a toothbrush
head should be small (1" by 1/2")
for easy access. It should have
a long, wide handle for a firm grasp.
It should have soft, nylon bristles
with round ends. Some brushes are
too abrasive and can wear down teeth.
A soft, rounded, multi-tufted brush
can clean teeth effectively. Press
just firmly enough to reach the
spaces between the teeth as well
as the surface. Medium and hard
bristles are not recommended.
How long should I brush? It might
be a good idea to brush with the
radio on, since dentists generally
recommend brushing 3-4 minutes,
the length of an average song. Using
an egg timer is another way to measure
your brushing time. Patients generally
think they're brushing longer, but
most spend less than a minute brushing.
To make sure you're doing a thorough
job and not missing any spots, patients
are advised to brush the full 3-4
minutes twice a day, instead of
brushing quickly five or more times
through the day.
Should I brush at work? Definitely,
but most Americans don't brush during
the workday. Yet a recent survey
by Oral-B Labor-atories and the
Academy of General Dentistry shows
if you keep a toothbrush at work,
the chances you will brush during
the day increase by 65 percent.
Dentists recommend keeping a toothbrush
at work. Getting the debris off
teeth right away stops sugary snacks
from turning to damaging acids,
and catches starchy foods like potato
chips before they turn to cavity-causing
sugar. If you brush with fluoride
toothpaste in the morning and before
going to bed, you don't even need
to use toothpaste at work. You can
just brush and rinse before heading
back to the desk. If you don't have
a toothbrush, rinsing your mouth
with water for 30 seconds after
lunch also helps.
The following tips may improve
your work-time brushing habits:
Post a sticky note on your desk
or computer at work as a reminder
to brush teeth after lunch.
Brush teeth right after lunch,
before you become absorbed in work.
Store your toothbrush and toothpaste
at work in a convenient and handy
place.
Make brushing your teeth part
of your freshening up routine at
work.
