It is no rocket science! Brushing our teeth is a life skill we learned in our childhood, so we tend to believe that we know how to do it right and feel somewhat offended when our dentist or dental hygienist tries to explain to us the right way of brushing our teeth! After all, it seems like an uncomplicated process where we squeeze some toothpaste onto the toothbrush and roll it around our teeth to clean them. What can go wrong here? 

However, we tend to overlook some important aspects of proper tooth brushing and end up doing it wrong, which, owing to the frequency of daily repetition, has hazardous consequences for our gums and teeth.

So, here are some points for you to consider the next time you hold a toothbrush in your hand.

How old is your toothbrush? 

The tufts of your toothbrush are grinding every day against the hardest part of the human body, the enamel! They are bound to wear away faster than you can imagine and lose the ability to clean your teeth properly. So, getting a new toothbrush every three months is highly recommended.

How do you hold your toothbrush?

Most of us have learned to have a firm palm and thumb-type grasp on our toothbrush which unfortunately ends up exerting a lot of pressure onto our teeth. The actual way to hold your toothbrush is using a Penhold grasp, exactly like the way you hold a pen to write!

Which toothbrush to buy?

The next time you shop for a toothbrush, check out the labels and opt for a "Soft" toothbrush which is ideal for healthy teeth and gums. Of course, your dentist may prescribe "Ultra Soft" toothbrushes for your prevailing periodontal conditions, but "Soft" toothbrushes are the safest choice for you. A word of advice, "Hard" toothbrushes are best for cleaning bottles and kitchen utensils!

Which toothpaste is the best? 

Another question that regularly pops up at the dentist is which toothpaste is the 'best'. Essentially speaking, all toothpastes constitute similar ingredients if they are marketed in a regular "paste" form and not as powders, gels, whiteners, or desensitizers which contain other ingredients that may be deleterious in long-term use. For example, even regular "gel" toothpastes contain more abrasives which roughen up the tooth enamel on long-term use. So, while it is perfectly fine to try some new products out for the short term, stick to regular tooth 'pastes' for regular use unless medically indicated!

Do you use Interdental Cleaning Aids?

Surprisingly, even if you brush your teeth twice daily, you are only cleaning somewhere around 70 percent of the total tooth area present inside your mouth. The area between the teeth remains inaccessible to the tufts of the toothbrush and you will need to supplement to your brushing habits with regular flossing and/or interdental toothbrush.

Be kind to your teeth and gums! 

The worst possible thing you could be doing to your teeth is loading a hard brush with something that contains a lot of abrasives and scrubbing away using a lot of force! Our teeth and gums only demand some 10 minutes of our gentle attention every day for their proper care. So, let's use the right armamentarium and methods to take care of our pearly whites.

And don't forget to Book an Appointment for a checkup and Oral Prophylaxis procedure once in a while to ensure your optimal oral health. You are still going to need professional teeth cleaning services at least once a year if you really want your dental hygiene to be perfect!

Additionally, stay connected for our next blog on proper brushing techniques!