Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly? 

Having good oral hygiene starts with brushing your teeth properly at home each day. November 1st was Brush Day, reminding people about the importance of brushing thoroughly — especially in the days following Halloween. 

How to Properly Brush Your Teeth

The first step to brushing your teeth correctly is to use the best toothbrush for your individual needs. Some people like plastic, soft-bristled toothbrushes, however, some people would rather invest and use electric toothbrushes. Dentists like ours, Dr. Kevin Varley, can help decide what option is best for you. 

Once you have your toothbrush, you need to know how to properly use it. Brushing your teeth should take two minutes twice a day — once in the morning and once at night. Healthline details the steps in full so you can know just what to do:

1. Wet your toothbrush head with a small amount of water. From there, place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the bristles. 
2. Once your toothbrush is ready, place it in your mouth at a 45-degree angle to your gums and use gentle, small circular motions to brush your teeth. 
3. Brush the outside surfaces of your teeth, being sure you don’t leave any tooth left uncleaned. 
4. Next, flip your toothbrush upside down to get the inside surfaces of your top front teeth. From there, flip it back around, and get the inside surface of your bottom front teeth.
5. Lastly, brush your tongue to get rid of bacteria and plaque that has gotten stuck there while you were brushing your teeth.
6. Spit out the remaining toothpaste and saliva into your sink. Finish the process by rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water. 

If you use an electric toothbrush, the technique is similar, Healthline further explains. Follow these steps to get your teeth properly cleaned with an electric toothbrush: 

1. Place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the wet bristles. 
2. Turn on your electric toothbrush and start at the back bottom row of your teeth at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line. 
3. Using gentle, light pressure, brush one tooth at a time, buffing each tooth with the vibrating bristles. 
4. From here, switch to the back top row of your teeth and repeat, cleaning and polishing one tooth at a time. 
5. Use the electronic toothbrush to clean your tongue, gently moving it across your tongue’s surface.
6. Spit out the remaining toothpaste and saliva into the sink. Rinse with cold water thoroughly. 

When you brush your teeth twice a day everyday, it can quickly become a mundane task. However, it is one of the most important aspects of protecting your oral health. 

Other Ways to Protect Your Oral Health

In addition to brushing twice a day, you should floss once a day to remove food and plaque stuck between your teeth. Additionally, you can also add a mouthwash to your routine to help you further fight plaque buildup and bacteria that can cause bad breath. 

Along with all of this, the next important thing you can do for your oral health is to see your dentist twice a year. While this works for most people, sometimes, if you are more at-risk for dental problems or already have dental health issues, your dentist might ask you to visit more often. Colgate explains those who are most likely to need to visit the dentist more frequently:

• Pregnant women
• Smokes
• Diabetics
• Those with gum disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Those with regular cavities or plaque and tartar buildup 

Checkups with Stonebrook Family Dental 

Here at Stonebrook Family Dental, we have found that poor at-home care can lead to oral infections, tooth decay, and gum disease, which can then cause cardiovascular disease, premature birth rates, diabetes, and osteoporosis. We aren’t telling you this to scare you, but to explain how important your oral health really is. Our team offers a number of dental services in Aurora, CO to help you find balance between your oral health and overall health. 

One of the most important parts of your dental checkup is a thorough cleaning of your teeth, gums, and mouth. If you have gum disease, a more intensive cleaning will take place. Once your teeth are cleaned, your appointment will include a dental exam to review all soft and hard tissues in your mouth. After the exam, Dr. Varely will talk with you about your current dental health and what treatment plan we will move forward with. 

If you’re ready to get your teeth clean and your mouth healthy, call Stonebrook Family Dental for an appointment today: (303)-872-7907.