Fun and interesting facts about brushing your teeth

Brushing your teeth - who said it has to be dull or tedious? While it's true that diligent daily care is necessary for maintaining good oral hygiene, we’ll outline some practical tips for brushing your teeth and keeping your teeth and gums healthy that won't make your routine monotonous. In fact, some of these tips are both practical and fun! Continue reading to learn more.

How long should you be brushing your teeth? Songs to help you brush your teeth

Experts suggest you should brush your teeth for at least 2 to 3 minutes to ensure thorough cleaning, brushing each tooth and molar on all sides. Despite knowing this, many people don't monitor the time spent brushing their teeth and end up brushing for less than the recommended amount of time. To avoid this, here’s a helpful tip: listen to 2-minute songs while brushing your teeth so that you can time how long you should brush. Given that we will spend about 79 days of our lives brushing our teeth (assuming we brush for at least 2 minutes twice a day), why not make it a fun and rhythmic experience?

Selecting songs to brush your teeth to that last at least 2 to 3 minutes can help you stick to the recommended brushing time. This simple trick works well for adults to keep track of their brushing time and can also be enjoyable and beneficial for children. Playing children's songs or nursery rhymes can make it easy and fun for kids to brush their teeth properly.

Here's another tip for brushing your teeth to music: You don't have to spend hours searching for songs to brush your teeth to that match the recommended amount of time. There are ready-made playlists already available on numerous music platforms so you don't have to stress about finding the perfect song. Enjoy yourself while keeping your teeth and gums clean!

How much dental floss should be used? The secret lies in your elbow!

A common question with flossing is how much dental floss to use. A useful trick to answer this is to measure the floss from your hand to your elbow. This method allows you to quickly determine the right amount of floss you should use for each cleaning, avoiding any unnecessary waste.

A tip to remember how often you should change your toothbrush or toothbrush head

If you're unsure about how often you should change your toothbrush or toothbrush head, this section will provide you with guidelines and tips to help you remember so that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy. It's important to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months to effectively maintain healthy gums and teeth. Over time, the bristles of your toothbrush wear down, reducing its ability to remove dental plaque and bacteria efficiently.

Another tip for good oral hygiene is to set a regular reminder on your calendar or cell phone to remember how often you should change your toothbrush or toothbrush head. This way, you won't have to rely on memory or calculations to know when it's time for a replacement. Keeping track of how often you change your toothbrush ensures it's always in good condition for effective brushing.

Don’t want to become ill again? Why you should change your toothbrush after being sick

While our previous tip is helpful for knowing when to change your toothbrush, there are times when exceptions are necessary. For instance, you should also change your toothbrush or toothbrush head after being sick.

But why is this crucial? If you brush your teeth when sick, germs can linger on the bristles and potentially cause reinfection when you use the toothbrush again.

This is a good oral hygiene tip to keep in mind to avoid getting sick repeatedly!

Should I brush my teeth right after a meal? How long to wait after eating to brush your teeth

Many people believe they should be brushing their teeth right after eating when the fact of the matter is we should slow down. Here we’ll explain how long you should actually wait to brush your teeth after eating.

Consuming food alters the pH levels in the mouth, increasing acid levels which can damage tooth enamel. Although saliva works to neutralize this effect, it typically takes around 20 minutes. That’s why experts advise waiting approximately 30 minutes after meals before brushing your teeth to prevent damage to your tooth enamel. Remember to check the time after eating to determine how long you should wait to brush your teeth.

How to clean your tongue - the burning question

It’s common knowledge that you should clean your tongue, but many people don’t know how to do it. Ideally, you should brush your tongue while brushing your teeth.

In fact, remembering that you should brush your tongue is crucial as this simple practice contributes significantly to reducing issues such as gingivitis, cavities, halitosis (bad breath), and periodontal disease. This is why dental experts recommend you clean your tongue at least once a day using either a tongue scraper or a toothbrush.

Put your dental health first with Impress

Now that you’ve learned some interesting facts about brushing your teeth and valuable tips for keeping your mouth and gums healthy, it’s essential that we emphasize the importance of attending regular check-ups with your dentist so that you can maintain good oral hygiene. Whether you're considering a dental cleaning or seeking clear aligner treatment to enhance the health and appearance of your teeth, Impress specializes in optimizing oral health and teeth alignment. Our goal is to boost the confidence and self-esteem of all our patients through personalized treatments.

So if you’re considering one of our aligner treatments or if you’re interested in another dental procedure, visit your nearest Impress clinic where you can meet the team of experts who will oversee your treatment. You can also schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 888.490.1421.