Tooth Brushing 101: Why, When, and How to Build Your Smile

Tooth brushing is an extremely important part, not just of your dental care, but of your overall health as well. Unfortunately, a lot of people are taking their teeth for granted. Namely, the Academy of General Dentistry reports that the average person in America brushes for only 45 to 70 seconds a day, which could be the main reason why there are so many problems in dentistry. Cavity, gingivitis, plaque, painful chewing are just a few of them. So, instead of risking big dental and health problems, learn everything you need to know about proper tooth brushing.

The importance of tooth brushing

If you ever wonder what happens if you don’t brush your teeth, the answer will show you that it’s better to not even try with this experiment of ‘not-brushing’. Cavity, plaque, bad breath, gingivitis are just some of the dental ailments. But, diabetes, blindness, or even a stroke are connected with poor dental hygiene.

Healthy teeth

Around 2.3 billion people have decay or permanent teeth due to improper dental care, which is why the World Health Organization declared it as a major public health problem globally. If you don’t brush your teeth properly and regularly, acid from bacteria that are already in your mouth will start to attack your tooth enamel, the protective coating in your teeth. 

Healthy gums

Untreated cavities can lead to abscesses under the gums which potentially can be the cause of some form of periodontal disease, like gingivitis or periodontitis. Almost 50% of adults aged 30 years and older have periodontal disease and even though some of these conditions are caused by genetics, brushing your teeth can decrease the chance of developing gums infections and inflammation.

Healthy heart

Regular tooth brushing will eliminate bacteria that can easily end in your bloodstream and cause a stroke, just like the tooth abscess can spread to the brain, sinuses, heart, or lungs through the blood vessels and it can cause coma, sinus infection, bacterial endocarditis… Various studies have shown that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Also, tooth loss patterns are connected to artery disease. As you can see, everything is connected. With proper brushing, you are actually taking care of your teeth, gums, and – heart!

Fresh breath

Don’t underestimate the importance of fresh breath. It is a big self-confidence and mood booster that you can improve with a simple, but more than an effective trick – brushing!

Simple steps for proper tooth brushing

There is a proven technique of tooth brushing that will give you results that you’ll be able to see in a beautiful smile and healthy teeth.

How long should you brush your teeth?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you should brush your teeth for two minutes. If you brush your teeth less than that, there is a big chance that you won’t remove as much plaque as you need to.

How often should you brush your teeth?

You should brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and before you go to sleep at night. Brushing your teeth in the morning will give you a fresh breath, and doing it at night will remove all the food residue from your teeth and mouth. If you go to bed without brushing your teeth, it means that your teeth will be covered with bacteria until the morning. While brushing your teeth twice a day is mandatory, you can brush your teeth after meals when you feel the need.

Simple steps of brushing your teeth

Here’s how to correctly brush your teeth in a few simple steps:

• Add a small amount of toothpaste to your toothbrush
• Move a brush back and forth in short strokes
• Brush the chewing surface of your teeth in back and forth motion
• Brush your tongue to eliminate any bacterial residue
• Rinse out your mouth using water
• Don’t forget to smile! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm9c5HAUBpY

The most common mistakes you make brushing your teeth

Everyone thinks that brushing is a piece of cake. It is when you do it right. But, if you brush your teeth wrong and you think you can do it properly in 10 seconds, well… There is a big chance you’re going to face cavities, plaque, and other dental problems.

Keeping a toothbrush for too long

You need to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. If you brush your teeth with broken bristles, it can do more damage than good. Having frayed bristles is a sign that you need a new toothbrush.

Not flossing

Flossing is important just as much as proper brushing. It will clean those in-between teeth spaces where your toothbrush can’t reach. Regularly flossing can prevent gum diseases, and avoid receding gums.

Using a hard toothbrush

If you are asking yourself: “Why do my gums bleed when I brush my teeth?”, maybe the answer is because you are using a toothbrush with hard bristles. Namely, hard bristles won’t clean your teeth more or better than soft ones. Be gentle to your teeth and pick a toothbrush with soft bristles because those won’t make your gums bleed. 

Not brushing for long enough

2 minutes, twice a day. That’s all you need. Not more, not less. If 2 minutes seems long to you, set a timer or hum your favorite song, and voilà!

Storing your toothbrush improperly

When you’re done brushing, let your toothbrush air dry in the open. Don’t store it in the container because the wet toothbrush in a closed container is a perfect place for growing germs.

How to pick the right toothbrush?

Picking the right toothbrush is the first step in your dental care. Check out what you should bear in mind when choosing this important tool.

How often should you change your toothbrush?

The ADA’s recommendation is to change your toothbrush every season, meaning every 3-4 months. Luckily, there is a toothbrush, or to be more precise – a brush head that can last up to 6 months. 

Manual vs. electric toothbrushes?

Both manual and electric toothbrushes are effective at cleaning the plaque. Still, electric toothbrushes are a little bit more effective because of the more micro-movements they are making. Besides that, scientists found that people who use an electric toothbrush have healthier gums, less tooth decay, and also keep their teeth for longer, compared with those who use a manual toothbrush.

What is the best electric toothbrush?

The electric toothbrush has to be gentle to your teeth and gums. Also, when you are buying one for yourself, you want the one with long battery life, right? How many speeds does it have, is it waterproof… FOREO’s ISSA 3 is all you need. It features a unique hybrid brush head that combines extremely soft bacteria-resistant silicone to gently massage gums. But, that’s not all. It also features sturdier PBT polymer bristles that expertly break down plaque and a Tongue & Cheek Cleaner on the back. Simply said – ISSA 3 cleans it all! [caption id="attachment_10820" align="alignnone" width="1200"] ISSA 3 has been clinically proven to reduce gingivitis[/caption]

How to pick the right toothpaste?

First of all, you need toothpaste that contains fluoride, a natural mineral that protects your teeth. Fluoride reduces tooth decay by as much as 40%. After picking a toothpaste with fluoride, consider your individual needs. If you need a whitening toothpaste, or one for sensitive teeth, one that prevents gingivitis… It’s up to you. And, of course, every toothpaste that you choose needs to be approved by the Dental Association, so pick a trustworthy brand. 

Importance of healthy smile

A healthy smile is your mood booster and the most beautiful accessory that never goes out of style. A smile is contagious and you know it very well. Just remember how hard is to frown at someone who’s smiling at you. This beautiful curve on your face has many health benefits as well such as reducing anxiety and lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Also, a smile can get you promoted! But for all of that, you have to have proper dental care.