Cavities are the little monsters that live within your teeth at night. Without proper brushing techniques, they’re allowed to fester and spread around your mouth like wildfire. While you may think your current brushing method is effective, we’re here to tell you that it probably isn’t. Most people are brushing their teeth completely wrong, and on top of that, they’re using the wrong toothbrush too. So, we’re here to provide some helpful ways in which you can brush your teeth and prevent those pesky cavities from accruing on your pearly whites.
Tooth Decay Prevention
Proper teeth brushing is key in preventing cavities from forming on your teeth. Tooth decay not only makes your teeth appear gross, but it can lead to serious health problems down the road. Your doctor will constantly pound into your head the importance of teeth brushing. So, here are 3 helpful tips to aid you in properly brushing your teeth.
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- Brush your teeth at least twice a day: Brushing your teeth twice with fluoride-containing toothpaste a day is important. It would make your dentist happy if you brushed your teeth after every meal, but we understand that it can sometimes be impossible. But this is an important step in teeth brushing, and brushing effectively will create large amounts of change within your oral routine.
- Floss Daily: Flossing is a daily burden for so many people, but it is just as important as brushing your teeth. Flossing gets out dug in grime that a toothbrush can’t get out on its own. Also, flossing allows you to clean your gums as well. Your overall gum health leads to the improvement or deterioration of your oral and physical health too.
- Limit your sugar intake: Foods with high sugars are key contributors to cavities as well. The sugar acts as a sticky substance and will break down the enamel of your tooth quite easily. If you do find yourself indulging in sugar, we recommend brushing your teeth directly after maintaining your overall tooth health.
The truth behind your toothbrush
The toothbrush you also use heavily contributes to your overall tooth health as well. We recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride-containing toothpaste to get maximum results from oral care. Hard bristle toothbrushes can ruin your gums due to the bristles’ brash nature, and they can also further wear down your enamel.
Contrary to popular belief, soft-bristled toothbrushes can brush your teeth just as effectively as their hard counterparts. If you really want to up the ante on your teeth brushing, we recommend investing in a quality electric toothbrush. The bristles’ invigorating motion helps to remove tough, stuck-on grime from your teeth that an average toothbrush might miss.
Finally, we encourage you to change the way you brush your teeth. Most of our patients just brush left to right until they feel they’re done. But, you should be brushing your teeth for a minimum of two minutes, and you should also be brushing your teeth in circular motions—this aids in getting any bacteria to release their grip from your teeth properly. An effective brushing method is imperative in preventing cavities.
As always, we encourage you to schedule your regular 6-month appointment with our dentist here at Gentle Dental care for optimal teeth health. Your smile is important to us, so give our office a call today (281) 398-3636.