Brushing your teeth for oral hygiene

Below is a guide to the correct techniqes and best practice when brushing your teeth, and tips on how to choose the right tooth brush. For information on cleaning the surfaces between your teeth read our guides to flossing and interdental brushing with proximal brushes and Tepe.

Brush your teeth at least twice daily as plaque formation begins four to 12 hours after brushing.
Use a toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste
Try to brush after every meal and snack
Replace toothbrushes every three months
Select toothbrushes with soft, nylon, rounded bristles. The size and shape should be such that it can easily reach all tooth surfaces. Avoid the use of hard toothbrushes.
If you have difficulty holding a toothbrush, you can modify the toothbrush handle by inserting it into a rubber ball for easier gripping
Brush gently as brushing with force can result in abrasions in the tooth enamel or dentin causing tooth sensitivity problems.

Proper brushing techniques

Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line, the point where the teeth and the gums meet, and move it towards the edge of teeth in order to move the dental plaque away from the gum line.
Repeat for the outer surface of each tooth, moving the brush back and forth gently using short strokes. Give special attention to the molars.
Follow the same routine for the inside surface of each tooth.
Use the same gentle back and forth brush strokes horizontally for the chewing surfaces of each tooth.
Next brush your tongue to remove the bacteria that cause bad breath and freshen your breath in the process. Alternatively you can use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue.
Brush the roof of your tongue, especially rewarding if you have a bad breath problem.
Finally spit out the remaining toothpaste and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. You can also follow it up with a mouth rinse using mouthwash.
A proper brushing routine will last from 2 to 3 minutes.

Choosing a toothbrush

General

Choose a toothbrush that has the following features

Head size that feels comfortable in your mouth and that reaches easily to the back teeth.
Anatomic grip facilitating proper tooth brushing moves
Head design that facilitates efficient cleaning of and at all the teeth surfaces
Nylon bristles as they last longer than natural bristles
Rounded end bristles to prevent damage to the gums
As specified by your dentist specific to your needs, mouth shape and dental problems.
If you feel overwhelmed by these deciding factors, always go for the safest choice - a soft toothbrush.

Kids toothbrush

Since kids have tender gums that can be easily damaged special care must be given while selecting a toothbrush for them. The brushes must have the following features

Small head size
Soft bristles
Large and anatomic grip
Flexible neck material – this helps to absorb excessive brushing pressure
Attractive design and colours – can make brushing a pleasure activity for the kid

In case of infants below the age of two, use a special type of infant toothbrush that fits over your finger to clean their teeth
Infant electric toothbrushes – Consult a paediatric dentist before buying one

When should I change me toothbrush ?

As a result of constant use, the bristles of the brush wear out overtime and cannot facilitate adequate cleaning and may also cause injury. Hence it is ideal you change your tooth brush under the following conditions

Change the brush as a practice every 3-4 months. In case of children’s toothbrushes they have to be changed more often as they tend to wear out quickly.
Once the bristles begin to loose their natural position
After a cold or flue

Storing your toothbrush

In order to keep your toothbrush in good shape and make them last longer make sure to follow the instructions below after every brushing

Wash and rinse the toothbrush well ensuring that you remove any remaining toothpaste, food debris and bacteria.
Store it in well-ventilated area keeping it in an upright position. This helps in drying the toothbrush
Never cover the toothbrush head or put it in a closet before it dries completely as any moisture retained as a result will help in the growth of bacteria.
Avoid storing the toothbrush in the same holder with another person's brush, and if unavoidable make sure to keep them well apart to prevent cross-contamination.