Back to the basics…

Many of my adult patients laugh when I get out the handy dandy toothbrush we all are well acquainted with and demonstrate tooth brushing technique to them the same as I do for my child patients.  The toothbrush has been around for years, centuries even.  It has changed its shape, size, and tenderness throughout the years, but its basic purpose is the same: to remove “stuff” from your mouth.  What is this “stuff”?  I’m sure you’ve heard the term plaque before but do we really know what it is?  Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth.  It is usually a white-ish film that can be removed with this ever so handy object called the toothbrush.  As I’ve said before this can be a very useful tool, if you know how to use it properly. 

Now this point brings me back to my basic tooth brushing technique demonstrations for kids and adults alike.  I like to explain that you wouldn’t be very effective with a hammer to pound in a nail if you were holding the hammer the wrong way.  Could you do it?  Possibly.  With a lot of patience and time.  But isn’t it much more effective to be taught the correct way of using it to get the job done faster and more thoroughly?  The same principle can be applied to a toothbrush.  Here are the techniques I cover with my patients on both brushing and flossing.

            Brushing:  Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. (Bristles face the gums.) Move the brush back and forth gently in short tooth-wide strokes.  Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of all the teeth, upper and lower.  Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.  Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

            Flossing:  Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand.  Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.  Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.  When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth.  Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.  Bring the floss back toward the contact point between the teeth and move the floss up or down the other side, conforming the floss to the shape of the tooth.  Hold the floss tightly against the tooth.  Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions.  Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.

            With these two methods, brushing and flossing, you will be able to effectively remove plaque from the teeth, and therefore minimize the chance of developing cavities, gingivitis, or periodontal (gum) disease.  It is important to brush two times per day for two minutes each time and floss at least once a day.  Using an electric toothbrush is kind of like using a nail gun (automatic hammer), it can be more effective per duration of time, but it still won’t work well if you’re holding it the wrong way!

And remember…

 “You don’t have to floss ALL of your teeth… just the ones you want to keep! J