ARE YOU BRUSHING YOUR TEETH PROPERLY? 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER DURING THE PROCESS

As with many things in life, it’s not always about what you do as much as it is about how you do it. So while you may be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and doing your best to maintain the best oral care possible, the truth is that it’s equally as important that you are properly cleaning your mouth in order to make sure that your efforts are worth it. After all, it won’t do you much good if you are brushing your teeth, but they aren't seeing the best benefits possible. In order to help you keep up with the best oral maintenance possible, here are some tips from Elizabeth Kilpatrick-Fox, DMD to keep in mind. Take Your Time While Brushing How much time do you spend brushing your teeth? If it’s any less than two minutes, then you might be surprised to find out that this most certainly is not enough. You can think of your mouth in four different quadrants. Those being: the upper left, the upper right, the bottom left, and the bottom right. In order to make sure that you are brushing properly, you should be spending about thirty seconds in each of these quadrants, for a total of two minutes. If you are spending more than two minutes, that’s even better. But if you are spending any less, then it’s likely that you should reconsider the amount of time that you are spending. If you need help with tracking how long it’s taking you, consider an electric toothbrush that keeps track of the amount of time that it takes you, or consider putting a digital clock in your bathroom so that you can observe how long it’s taking you to properly brush. Have The Right Brush All toothbrushes are the same, right? That’s most certainly not the case. Instead, everyone should be using a toothbrush that is tailored to their specific oral health. For example, you may need a larger or smaller toothbrush depending on the size of your mouth, or you could need stronger or softer bristles depending on how sensitive your teeth and gums are. To have the best oral health, talk to your dentist about the type of toothbrush that is right for you. Not Too Hard, But Not Too Soft One of the most challenging parts of brushing your teeth is going to be determining just how much pressure you should be applying. It’s probably quite obvious that you won’t want to be applying so much pressure to your teeth and gums that it’s painful or it begins to bleed. On the other hand, not applying enough pressure may lead to you ineffectively cleaning your teeth. This could then result in bacteria building up in your mouth, which could be a serious problem over time. If you are uncertain with how much pressure you should be applying, it’s worth talking to your dentist. They will give you a better idea of how much pressure you should use while brushing your teeth, and they can take a look at your teeth and gums to determine if you need more or less care. Your Gums And Tongue Are Important Too Most people will brush the surface of their teeth to ensure that they have a pearly white smile that looks great in photos or personal settings. However, keep in mind that your teeth are not the only part of your mouth. Therefore, you should be taking the time to diligently clean your tongue and gums as well. Your gums are the foundation of your teeth, so they need to be strong to keep things in place. A healthy tongue, on the other hand, will prevent you from having bacteria buildup or bad breath. Take the time to brush your gums and tongue, and you’ll have much better oral health than if you avoid these areas.