You’ve been great about brushing after every meal, but is your brushing method as effective as it could be? Are you actually doing more harm than good? It’s possible! Many of us never really learned the “right” way to brush our teeth, and therefore aren’t getting all the benefits of great oral hygiene.
Your teeth have three different surfaces that need attention from your toothbrush: the front, back, and chewing surfaces. You can also think of your teeth as being in three different sections of your mouth. You have your front teeth, the left side and molars, and the right side molars. Start in the back on either side, and brush the inside and outside surfaces in a short, circular pattern. Aim for about two or three teeth at a time, and keep your brush at a downward angle of about 45 degrees. Make sure you are getting the gum line!
Next, move on to the chewing surfaces of your molars. Short, back and forth strokes along those surfaces will help loosen any tartar or food particles. Finally, brush the insides of your upper and lower front teeth using short, vertical strokes. The outsides can be brushed using the same method as your side teeth.
We recommend that you floss before brushing to get the most benefit, and that you finish with a good alcohol-free rinse. Now, doesn’t that feel better?
