Dental Care Tips – Tooth Brushing Part 2: Brush Your Teeth – Do It Right!

Dental Care Tips: Proper Tooth Brushing


In Part 1 of our dental care tips on proper tooth brushing, we talked about some ways people brush their teeth “wrong”—or not as good as they should.

Remember - brushing your teeth incorrectly can damage the enamel and cause permanent damage. Therefore, brushing your teeth the right way is critical to dental health. Of course, these are great dental tips for kids too!

Recap: The Incorrect Way to Brush Your Teeth

If you’re like most people, you brush your teeth in a back-and-forth motion until your teeth feel clean and slippery. Most people also feel that if you brush harder and faster, then you’ll have cleaner teeth. This is false. By doing this, you are scrubbing away precious, protective, tooth enamel. Having teeth with little to no enamel causes them to be sensitive to hot and cold.

A sawing motion, back and forth, when brushing teeth is in general, very abrasive, causing your teeth to age prematurely. But not only is this method harmful to teeth in this manner, it really doesn’t get your teeth as clean as they could be either. Brushing back and forth causes the bristles to bounce from tooth to tooth and doesn’t hit the space between teeth or under the gum line. Missing this space – and this important area around the gums – can cause cavities and leave the gum line vulnerable.

“Good Tooth Brushing” Recommendations:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day
  • Brush your teeth for two minutes each time
  • Use a soft bristled brush
  • Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months
  • Use an ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste

Dental Care Information on How to Brush Your Teeth Correctly & the Importance of Dental Care

Brushing your teeth correctly is actually fairly simple and easy. It’s so easy that you may feel like you’re not cleaning your teeth good enough.

It may be difficult to retrain yourself on how to brush your teeth right after using a certain method your whole life. But with our Greenfield and Milwaukee dentist tips, you can do it!

To start, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Then, gently move your brush back and forth in short, tooth-wide, strokes. Brush the outer surfaces of your teeth, the inner surfaces, and lastly the chewing surfaces, of the teeth. When cleaning the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up and down strokes to ensure you get all the plaque and build-up off the teeth and gums. Be sure to brush at least twice a day to clean away plague build up, leftover food, and conquer bad breath.

Adding to Your Routine

While brushing your teeth is a very important part of good dental hygiene, there are also a few more important steps to remember to maintain a healthy, clean smile. Clean between your teeth once a day. Bacteria that is capable of tooth decay can build up between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Additionally, always remember to brush your tongue as well, when you’re brushing your teeth. Bacteria can live on your tongue and it’s the main ingredient leading to bad breath.

Furthermore, eat a balanced diet that limits sugary beverages and snacks. Super-sugary intake is unhealthy for your teeth and poses a threat to the health of your teeth overall. It is also important to visit your Greenfield / Milwaukee dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease.

For more dental tips, including tooth brushing tips that include ideas for brushing teeth correctly, view additional articles in our blog!

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