How To Brush
The build up of plaque and bacteria creates ideal conditions for dental disease. You can prevent and control gum disease by brushing around and under the gum line where bacteria and plaque accumulate. Please ask your clinician for specific advice and recommendation on the best way to brush your teeth. There is some general information below.
It is recommended that you should spend about two minutes brushing. When you’ve finished brushing, simply rinse the brush head with water and allow it to dry.
Oral B provide information on how to position and brush with your manual toothbrush:
- Step 1: Start with outer and inner surfaces, and brush at a 45-degree angle in short, half-tooth-wide strokes against the gum line. Make sure you reach your back teeth.
- Step 2: Move on to chewing surfaces. Hold the brush flat and brush back and forth along these surfaces.
- Step 3: Once you get to the inside surfaces of your front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and use gentle up-and-down strokes with the tip of brush.
- Step 4: Be sure to brush your teeth gently along the gum line.
- Step 5: Brush your tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and help remove odour-causing bacteria to freshen your breath.
Electric toothbrushes, such as those by Oral B, often include timers that buzz when you have been cleaning your teeth for 2 minutes.
- Step 1: Make sure your toothbrush is charged. Many electric toothbrushes have charge level indicator lights, so you can actually see when the toothbrush is charged.
- Step 2: Start with the outside surfaces of the teeth. Guide the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth, holding the brush head in place for a few seconds against each tooth before moving on to the next one. Follow along with the shape of each tooth and the curve of the gums.
- Step 3: Repeat Step 2 on the inside surfaces of the teeth.
- Step 4: Repeat Step 2 on the chewing surfaces of the teeth as well as behind the back teeth.
- Step 5: Direct the brush head along the gum line and upon the gums. Again, do not press hard or scrub.
- Step 6: Try grazing the brush head along your tongue and the roof of your mouth, back to front, to help freshen your breath.
For further information:
Oral B
Colgate
Oral Health Foundation
NHS
