Brushing your teeth: why is it important and how to do it correctly
Brushing your teeth is more than a daily routine: it’s a key factor in maintaining good oral health in the long run. In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to brush your teeth and we’ll share useful tips and information to ensure your teeth stay clean and healthy.
Why is brushing your teeth important?
Brushing your teeth the correct way is crucial to maintaining good oral health. Brushing your teeth is important because it prevents cavities, protects your gums, keeps your breath fresh, and can even improve your overall health.
Our oral health is linked to our general well-being and can help prevent problems such as heart disease or diabetes. Having good oral health and feeling satisfied with our teeth can also affect our mental health, improving our confidence and self-assurance.
What happens if you don't brush your teeth
The most common thing that can happen if you don't brush your teeth regularly is that the bacteria in your mouth multiply and form plaque on the teeth. Additionally, this can promote the appearance of cavities, gum disease or bad breath. In the long run, untreated oral problems can also affect general health, since they are associated with other pathologies such as heart disease.
In addition to the problems mentioned above, if you don’t brush your teeth, the appearance of your teeth may also be affected. Teeth that are not brushed regularly look more yellow and unkempt.
To avoid the consequences of not brushing your teeth, let’s take a look at instructions for how to brush your teeth correctly.
How to brush your teeth the correct way, step by step
Wondering how to brush your teeth the correct way? Let’s dive into the following steps to brush your teeth correctly:
- Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Lightly moisten the toothbrush. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use small, circular motions. Brush all your teeth, tongue, and palate.
- Brush for at least two minutes.
- Finally, you should rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.
Now that you know the correct way to brush your teeth, we also want to remind you that it’s recommended that you use additional oral care products, such as dental floss and mouthwash. It’s also important to clean the brush and let it air dry.
How long do you brush your teeth?
“How long do you brush your teeth?” is a question that, depending on the professional you consult, may have different answers. Generally, professionals recommend brushing your teeth for at least two minutes. Two minutes should be enough to thoroughly clean all teeth and surfaces in your mouth. Some professionals even recommend three minutes to ensure no areas are missed. Having a clock in the bathroom can be a useful reminder to help you stick to the recommended time.
Another trick to brush your teeth correctly is to divide your mouth into four quadrants and spend 30 seconds brushing each area. Some electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer that tells you when to switch and when you've brushed enough.
How many times a day should you brush your teeth?
If you are wondering how often you should brush your teeth or how many times a day, here is the answer: it’s recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day: once in the morning after breakfast and once before going to bed. This ensures effective removal of plaque and harmful bacteria. Additionally, when thinking about how often you you should brush your teeth, it’s also recommended after meals, even if that means more than twice a day.
How long after eating should you brush your teeth?
There are various theories about exactly how long after eating you should brush your teeth.
But generally, dentist’s recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before you brush your teeth after eating. This allows saliva to neutralize acids and re-harden enamel, which may have been weakened by food intake. Brushing your teeth directly after eating may not be good, especially if you have consumed acidic foods or drinks, because it can damage the enamel, which is more sensitive.
The best teeth brushing routine
The correct teeth brushing and oral hygiene routine can make all the difference. First step: brush your teeth (and remember to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth). Then you should use dental floss to thoroughly clean the interdental spaces, and after brushing and flossing your teeth use an oral rinse or mouthwash. This way, you’ll guarantee that you're getting comprehensive oral care.
Is the brush enough to clean the spaces between the teeth?
Thinking about skipping the dental floss? It’s easy to neglect brushing between teeth when we clean them with just a toothbrush. This can have serious consequences on our oral health. Plaque and food debris can build up there and cause cavities and gum problems. Therefore, it is very important to floss regularly in addition to brushing without missing the spaces between your teeth.
Toothbrush types: which is the best?
There are different types of toothbrushes on the market, including:
- Normal manual brushes.
- Electric brushes.
- Sonic brushes.
- Double-sided brushes.
Toothbrushes are also classified according to the hardness of the bristles, which can be soft, medium or hard. Soft bristles are less aggressive, and hard bristles are generally not recommended as they can damage enamel and gums.
As for brush type, electric and sonic toothbrushes may be more effective at removing plaque, while some people prefer the simplicity of a manual toothbrush. So when it comes to the “best” toothbrush, it’s really about what’s best for you. The choice of the best toothbrush type should be based on personal preferences, individual needs, oral health goals, and dentist recommendations.
Toothpaste types: which is the best?
Just as there are different types of toothbrushes, there are also different types of toothpaste, and everyone wants to know which one is the best. Let’s start with the most common types, they are:
- Whitening toothpaste.
- Stain fighting toothpaste.
- Toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
- Plaque fighting toothpaste.
- Toothpaste to protect against cavities.
- Specific toothpaste for periodontal or gum problems.
- Toothpaste for kids.
Dentists generally recommend toothpaste with fluoride, as fluoride helps protect teeth from cavities and strengthens tooth enamel. However, if you want to know which type of toothpaste is best, just like with brushes, it depends on individual needs. We suggest consulting your dentist and they can recommend what type of toothpaste is best for you.
Special considerations when brushing your teeth
There are some special considerations to keep in mind when brushing your teeth, depending on your individual conditions. We’ll go over the most important ones below.
What do I need to know about brushing sensitive teeth?
When brushing sensitive teeth, you should use a soft toothbrush and a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth to protect the enamel.
Why do my gums bleed while brushing my teeth?
If your gums bleed when brushing your teeth, it is usually because there is a buildup of plaque. It’s important to brush your teeth with a soft brush and avoid applying excessive pressure to prevent additional irritation. Some electric/sonic toothbrushes recognize when you are applying too much pressure and vibrate to prevent damage to your gums.
Should I be brushing my teeth right after an extraction or other operations?
Depending on the type of operation you’ve had, your dentist will give you specific instructions. Therefore, it’s important to follow their exact instructions on brushing your teeth after an extraction or other procedure from your dentist to ensure a safe recovery.
How do you brush your teeth with braces or other orthodontics devices?
Got braces and wondering how to brush your teeth? You’re not alone. Brushing your teeth with braces can be complicated, since they create obstacles to clearing your teeth. Fixed orthodontics, like braces, can cause food debris and plaque to accumulate more easily, making cleaning difficult. It’s important to brush thoroughly to prevent plaque and cavities, since the risk increases during treatment braces. We recommend brushing your teeth with braces by using special brushes and tools to reach all areas around the braces and wires.
In contrast, invisible aligners allow for easier oral hygiene during treatment. Brushing your teeth with removable orthodontics such as aligners is simple; they can be removed before brushing your teeth, meaning no obstacles. This makes it easy to thoroughly clean your teeth and support your oral health throughout orthodontic treatment.
Impress removable aligners to improve your oral hygiene
At Impress, we offer orthodontic treatments with invisible aligners, which make it easier to clean your teeth and straighten them in a less invasive way than other treatments.
Since they’re removable, our aligners allow you to efficiently clean your teeth. This makes it easier to brush and floss without having to navigate obstacles. We are here to ensure that the top-level of oral hygiene is maintained throughout your treatment.
If you are interested in our removable orthodontic treatments with aligners, come to your nearest Impress clinic and meet the team of professionals who will supervise your treatment. You can get a free consultation by calling us at 888.490.1421, or by booking online.
Frequently asked questions about tooth brushing
How should I clean my toothbrush?
Understanding how to clean your toothbrush is one of those tasks that few people actually know how to do. The correct answer is by rinsing the brush with hot water and letting it air dry or using a special toothbrush cleaning solution.
When was the toothbrush invented and who invented it?
Now that you know everything about brushing your teeth, have to stopped to consider when the toothbrush was invented and who invented it?The modern toothbrush developed over time from several precursors and was used in different cultures. However, the toothbrush as we know it today was invented in the 18th century. The first bristle toothbrush was made in Great Britain in 1780, and in 1857, the American H.N. Wadsworth received the first US patent. Mass production of toothbrushes began in the 19th century, leading to their improved features and increased popularity.
When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
Wondering when to start brushing your baby’s teeth? Babies should start brushing their teeth from the moment their first tooth emerges, generally after six months.
Is it better to brush your teeth before or after breakfast?
Brushing your teeth in the morning helps reduce bacteria and bad breath that can build up overnight. Therefore, it is best to brush your teeth after having breakfast, although we also recommend doing it before.
How long should I wait to eat after brushing my teeth?
After brushing your teeth, we recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before eating again so that the acids in the food do not react/affect the effect of the toothpaste.
Can I brush my teeth after scaling?
After a professional tooth cleaning or scaling, you should not clean or brush your teeth for at least 2-4 hours to give the cleaned teeth time to recover.
