What Are the Best Brushing Techniques for Healthy Teeth?

Daily brushing is crucial for your smile and overall health. Dentists and the ADA recommend brushing twice daily for two minutes each in the morning and before bed at night. However, do you know whether you are caring for your teeth appropriately?

If you want answers to questions about brushing, including how long you must brush, determining whether your teeth are clean, and techniques for a thorough cleaning, this article details specifics about brushing. The information will help clarify your apprehensions (if any) about the best brushing techniques for healthy teeth.

How Long Should You Brush Teeth?

If you intend to clean your teeth appropriately, the task needs at least two minutes. Children will not appreciate instructions to brush for two minutes each time. If you feel similarly, use a timer to add fun to your brushing. Alternatively, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer that encourages you to dedicate two minutes to the task.

Can you brush your teeth too long?

Brushing for over two minutes will not harm your teeth if you are gentle with them. While remaining firm, you must ensure you don’t exert too much pressure on your teeth. You might damage tooth enamel and gum tissue. In addition, exerting pressure on your teeth results in tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. When cleaning your teeth, use your non-dominant hand to ascertain the difference in pressure you exert on your teeth.

Which Brushing Techniques Are Best Used?

Brushing helps prevent tooth decay and control gum disease when you brush around your teeth and beneath the gum line comfortable for dental plaque and bacteria to hide. You can try one of the different types of brushing techniques mentioned below to ensure you are cleaning your teeth well. The methods of brushing we describe are:

Bass or Sulcular Method: the bass and sulcular method entails using the toothbrush bristles to scrub dental plaque from beneath your gums before it causes gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Reviews from 2018 and analysis of different brushing techniques discovered the modified bass and sulcular method was more effective in plaque reduction and gingivitis than the horizontal method.

When using the bass and sulcular method, the dentist in Chicago suggests holding your toothbrush parallel to your teeth and tilting it to a 45-degree angle. The angle of the tools pushes the bristles slightly beneath the gum line. You can apply gentle pressure to brush back and forth or use a circular motion 15 to 20 times before moving to another area. You must brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the outer and inner, using similar actions, including the chewing surfaces and your tongue.

Stillman Technique: Stillman brushing technique resembles the bass and sulcular method except for the horizontal strokes you apply back and forth on all surfaces of your teeth.

Charter Technique: if you have spaces between your teeth, gum recession, exposed tooth roots, or have undergone periodontal surgery, the dentist near me suggests using the charter technique, which is also helpful if having orthodontic braces or fixed partials. When using the charter technique, you must place the bristles on your gum at a 45-degree angle, pointing to the tooth’s chewing surface. The position is in contrast to the bass and Stillman technique. Using short circular or back-and-forth motions, you can vibrate the brush gently for 15 to 20 counts. Brushing all your teeth using the same pattern, including surfaces and sides, is suggested.

Brushing Modifications

Consider using the modified versions of bass, Stillman, and the charter technique but follow the method chosen after passing an area through rolling off bristles from your gums. The modification helps sweep debris between your teeth and cleans the tooth surface efficiently. If you need more information, discuss the matter with your dental hygienist during your routine appointment for recommendations.

How to Determine Whether Your Teeth Are Clean?

Brushing for two minutes does not guarantee the cleanliness of your teeth, and you use the proper technique. You must ensure all surfaces of your teeth are clean and free from debris, ensuring you use short strokes in the back-and-forth of your teeth and gums. It would help if you also reached behind your front teeth and the back molars besides cleaning between your teeth.

If you cannot reach the narrow areas of your mouth, consider using an interdental toothbrush, dental floss, and water flossers. Your cleaning technique might be inappropriate if you notice access dental plaque or bleeding gums when brushing and flossing. You will receive information from your dental hygienist on your brushing techniques during your next appointment if your brushing and flossing techniques are inappropriate.

You will likely avoid challenges with your brushing techniques if you get routine exams and cleanings from Dental Impressions. If you have not contacted them, kindly arrange a meeting for your next routine exam and cleaning.