It might surprise you to learn this, but your Southern Ocean County dentist will verify that it’s true: a huge number of patients do not brush their teeth properly.
It’s true. This part of our daily routine might appear as if it should be something easy and simple to do, but the truth is that even the best of us can start to pick up bad habits over the years.
And as we all know, once those bad habits are formed, they can be very hard to break. And as dentists near Forked River, believe us, bad brushing habits can make your work to maintain good oral hygiene far less effective.
Thankfully, you’re reading this blog post. The team at Bayside, a dental office near Lacey, is about to change your brushing for he better! Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Brush twice a day, three times if you can – In the morning after you get up and in the evening just before bed are the best times to brush, as that’s when you can best target the bacteria that are running amok. Also brush after meals when you can, especially if you’ve eaten acidic foods, sweets, or food and drink that can stain your teeth.
Brush for two minutes – The basic rule of thumb is to brush for two minutes. This gives you enough time to get to all corners of your mouth, brushing away the nasty bacteria that will do damage to your teeth over time.
Don’t brush too hard; it might damage your enamel – Believe it or not, you shouldn’t be too aggressive when you are brushing. Instead, use gentle strokes as you brush. You’re looking to brush away bacteria and food waste, not scrape off your tooth enamel.
Use short strokes as you brush – When brushing, short, swift strokes are ideal. This will focus your energy on specific sections of your mouth. Using long strokes make it too easy to miss spots in your mouth, and when that happens bacteria and plaque can get a foothold in your mouth.
Don’t forget the tongue! – Your tongue is often a haven for bacteria and can be a cause for bad breath, so be sure to brush it! Brush gently, but do so thoroughly. A clean tongue not only gives you a nicer appearance, it’s good for your oral health.
One Last Tip – A good way to make sure your tooth brushing is effective is to mentally divide your mouth into four sections: bottom left, bottom right, top left, and top right. Now you’ve got specific areas to target. Brush each section for 30 seconds.
Make this into a part of your daily routine. Do this two to three times per day, and your dentist near Forked River will probably think you’ve mastered the art of brushing – and you will have!
With good habits like these, you’ll not only save money on your dentist visits and cleanings, you’ll also live a happier, healthier life with more confidence.
