A welcoming pearly white smile makes a great first impression about a person. If you see a person whose teeth are crooked, yellowish and has bad breath when he or she speaks, you immediately know what kind of person they are. It’s nice to have a smile with pearly whites, but it does take some daily effort.
Two Times a Day For Two Minutes
Clean your teeth and tongue with a soft-bristled brush to remove any bacteria and plaque buildup before it hardens and becomes tartar. The American Dental Association suggests that you do this at least twice a day to keep everything in its best shape.
How to Do This Properly
Learning how to perform this cleaning properly prevents conditions such as gingivitis and tooth decay. Incorrect techniques can lead to tooth abrasion – a state wherein the enamel is worn away. Our delicate gums are also at risk of getting damage through improper techniques.
- Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- Start on the upper left molars focusing on the surface of the tooth. Do this in a clockwise direction. Do this for at least three to four times.
- Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gum. Use short strokes that are short enough to cover the width of the tooth. Move it back and forth several times.
- Reach the underside of the tooth by turning it vertically facing out then pulling the bristles down a few times. Continue this action for up to 2 minutes.
Don’t Over-Brush
Dental experts recommend following this at least twice a day for up to 2 minutes only. If you do it more often than that, you’ll risk wearing down the enamel. When there is no enamel, a layer of dentin is exposed, leading to pain and tooth sensitivity.
Not too Hard
Brushing your teeth is similar to flossing an eggshell. Don’t apply too much pressure as it could irritate the gums and wear off the enamels.
Floss Daily
Make sure you floss every day – Flossing helps get rid of particles your brush isn’t able to reach. It removes plaque; thus, prevents the buildup of tartar. It’s easy to get rid of plaque than removing tartar. Tartar removal requires special dental tools.
Order Isn’t Important
The common question is, which should be done first, but according to the American Dental Association, it doesn’t matter as long as both are done daily.
Avoid Soda
Both sugary and diet soda can negatively impact your teeth and gums, as the acid starts to attack them “Once acid eats away at the enamel, it goes on to create cavities, leaves stains on the tooth surface, and erodes the inside structure of the tooth.”
Replacing your brush every three to four months helps with effective cleaning. Worn and frayed bristles won’t be able to remove plaque and clean efficiently.
