You have strong teeth. But your gums are soft. Because of that, you will want to use a gentle, but slightly firm, touch when you brush your teeth. If you brush too hard, you may end up making your gums bleed. Consider investing in an electric toothbrush or a manual one that has soft bristles. Once you have your toothbrush in hand, angle it at 45 degrees to your gums and brush in a back and forth motion. Clean the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of all your teeth. For the inside front of them, brush in a vertical, up and down motion.
Despite our society’s push to move everything and everyone along quickly, when it comes to brushing your teeth, you should slow down. In fact, we suggest you brush for at least two minutes each time. If you do so, you will beat the national average of 45 seconds that most people spend brushing their teeth. But two minutes seems so long, you say. Try setting a timer to gauge your time or listen to a song you like that you know is only two minutes long.
The change of seasons to fall, winter, spring, and summer is a good time to replace your toothbrush. However, if your brush is looking frail, with broken or having frayed bristles, you should change it out no matter what time of year it is. And make sure you are storing it properly. After you completed your two minutes of brushing, set it out in an upright position out in the open. This will help it dry and prevent germs from growing on it, compared to storing it away in a container or dark space.
Keeping up with your dental habits is a good way to take care of your overall health. We are available to answer or address any questions or concerns you have about your oral health. To find out more about our approach to family dentistry, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Chan by calling MMC Dental in Houston, TX, today at (713) 926-8896.
Your smile is one of the first features a person notices about you. If…
The new year will be here before you know it! Have you used all of…
Are you ready to log off from work and spend more time with your family?…
When you look at your smile, where do you focus? If you are like most…
This Halloween, do you find yourself looking in the mirror and focusing more on your…
Dental appointments are an essential part of maintaining your health, but a large number of…