The most common pitfall that keeps people from brushing teeth properly is that they don’t brush for long enough. Most dentists recommend brushing for two to three minutes, spending at least 30 seconds on each “quadrant” of your mouth. You also want to make sure your pearly whites are getting the best attention. Follow these tips to get the most out of your tooth brushing:
Find the right toothbrush: Select a powerful and effective toothbrush for brushing your teeth. There are many varieties available, from electric to traditional, to soft and medium bristles and more. Most dental professionals recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid harming your gums while brushing your teeth. Find a soft bristle toothbrush with bristles of varying heights. This will ensure the bristles can effectively clean all surfaces and in between your teeth including hard to reach areas.
Find the right toothpaste: When you first learned how to brush your teeth, chances are you probably didn’t have much control over which toothpaste you used. You most likely just used whatever your parents used. Now, there are literally hundreds of choices available. From regular to tartar and plaque control to sensitive teeth toothpaste, to natural, whitening or bubble-gum flavored, you have more choices than ever. Your best bet is to try a toothpaste that is accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA). Look for the ADA seal on the package, or look up specific products on the ADA website at www.ada.org.
