Brushing Teeth

The right way to brush your teeth...

Brushing your teeth is one of the most important parts of taking care of your personal hygiene and health.

We recommend that you brush and floss your teeth three times per day after every meal. That is difficult to do for some of us that are constantly on the go or happen to work outdoor jobs, but the idea is to brush your teeth as often as possible, more often if your dentist recommends it.

Daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth is important because it removes dental plaque. If the plaque isn’t removed, it continues to build up, feeding on the food debris left behind and causing tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Be sure to brush thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste.

Which type of toothbrush should I use?

We will be able to recommend a toothbrush to you. However, adults should choose a small to medium size brush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round-ended nylon bristles or ‘filaments’. The head should be small enough to get into all parts of the mouth: especially the back of the mouth where cleaning can be difficult. Children need to use smaller brushes but with the same type of filaments.

You can now get more specialised toothbrushes. For instance, people with sensitive teeth can now use softer bristled brushes. There are also smaller headed toothbrushes for those people with crooked or irregular teeth. Some people find it difficult to hold a toothbrush, for example because they have Parkinson’s disease or a physical disability. There are now toothbrushes, which have large handles and angled heads to make them easier to use.

How should I brush?

Brushing removes plaque and food particles from the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth. Here is one method of removing plaque:

1. Place the head of your toothbrush against your teeth and angle against the gumline.

2. Move the brush in small circular movements, several times, on all the surfaces of each individual tooth.

3. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower, keeping the bristles angled against the gumline.

4. Use the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth. Brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

5. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes with the toe (the front part) of the brush.

6. Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath and will clean your mouth by removing bacteria.

How often should I change my toothbrush?

Worn-out toothbrushes cannot clean your teeth properly and may damage your gums. It is important to change your toothbrush every two to three months or sooner if the filaments become worn. When filaments become splayed, they do not clean properly.