Teeth Brushing
Brushing your teeth is the most important thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy. Whether you use an electric toothbrush or an old-fashioned tooth brush, you must ensure that you brush your teeth properly and often.
While you’ve likely been brushing your teeth as long as you can remember, it’s always helpful to review brushing best practices.
Manual Toothbrushes
Proper technique while brushing your teeth is essential for optimal oral health.
- On the outer and inner surfaces, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle in short half-tooth-wide strokes against the gum line.
- On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth.
- On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes with toe of brush.
- Brush the tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and freshen your mouth.
Remember to brush your teeth for at least two minutes to ensure clean teeth.
Manual toothbrushes run from $1 to $15. Make sure to select a soft brush toothbrush. Any firmer, and you’ll irritate your gums. Make sure to change your toothbrush every 3 months to reduce the chance of transferring bacteria & germs to your mouth.
Electric Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes are said to perform better at cleaning your teeth, removing plague Both rechargeable and battery-powered toothbrushes offer many benefits not found in manual toothbrushes. Look for these features when selecting an electric toothbrush:
- Plug-In Electric Toothbrushes Vs. Battery-Powered Electric Toothbrushes: Plug-in electric toothbrushes provide a cleaning tool that is always charged, always ready while a battery-powered electric toothbrush are more mobile and less expensive.
- Rotation Oscillation: A rotation oscillation-type brush-head alternately rotates in one direction and then the other, providing maximum scrubbing.
- Tension Sensors: Some high end electric toothbrushes have a sensor that slows the speed of the brush head if it determines that you’re brushing too hard.
- Timers: Some electric toothbrushes have times that let you know when you should stop brushing.
- Ergonomic Benefits: People with arthritis or arm and shoulder problems might prefer an electric toothbrush with the larger grip and less arm motion.
Electric toothbrushes can run from $20 to close to $200. While plug-in electric toothbrushes will cost you more upfront, they’ll save you in the long run compared to battery-powered toothbrushes. The best electric toothbrush for you will be one that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Toothpaste
Most toothpaste contains fluoride, which incorporates itself into the teeth, and prevents decay by making it harder for the bacteria to demineralize the tooth and form decay. But beyond fluoride, can a toothpaste lighten your teeth, dissolve tartar and help cold sensitivity? Maybe.
Whitening toothpaste does not bleach teeth. It uses a higher amount of abrasives than normal toothpaste to remove coffee, tobacco and other stains. If you want to bleach your teeth, you need to use a bleaching system. Many dentists, including the dentists at Smiles by Design, question the safety of using toothpastes with high abrasives for long periods of time.
Some tartar control toothpastes can help reduce the formation of tartar above the gum-line. However, they are no better at preventing gum disease than normal toothpaste. People with sensitive teeth, might find these types of toothpastes more irritating.
Sensitive toothpastes use formulas to block the pain signals from cold, hot or sweet foods. Each brand has a different formula. Use one whole tube before determining if it works for you. If it doesn’t work well, try a different brand. There are also temporary anti-sensitivity coatings that can be applied at Smiles by Design. After two or three applications, the tooth sensitivity is usually greatly reduced.
