4 Brushing Tips to Impress Your Dentist

Brushing your teeth every day is a necessary and important part of maintaining good dental health. Most of us should have been cleaning our teeth on our own since we were young, so we’d like to think we know what we’re doing! But even if you’re great at remembering to brush, there are still a few things you can be doing to improve your smile.

4 Brushing Tips to Impress Your Dentist

1. Update Your Equipment – The first place to start is with your dental hygiene tools! Your brush should be replaced every four months when the bristles begin to fray, or after recovering from a cold or the flu. As you use your toothbrush, bacteria will get trapped in the bristles, causing them to get dirty and fray. Once this happens, the toothbrush won’t work effectively to remove bacteria.
2. Set a Timer – It’s recommended that you brush for at least two minutes. This is how long it typically takes to clean each surface of each tooth. Set a timer on your phone or listen to a song that lasts at least 2 minutes. There are a lot of ways to make sure you’re brushing for the right amount of time!
3. Be Gentle – Many people think that the more vigorously they brush their teeth, the cleaner their teeth will be. In reality, scrubbing your teeth will damage and weaken tooth enamel. Instead, gently hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush in a circular motion.
4. Chew Gum – Lastly, chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to keep your mouth clean and fresh throughout the day. Gum will aid in removing food debris left in your mouth after lunch and stimulating saliva flow, which helps rinse plaque off the teeth.

Make sure you’re brushing and flossing twice a day, drinking plenty of water, and visiting Meadows Family Dentistry every six months for a dental cleaning and an exam. This can allow us to catch potential problems early on when they’re simpler to treat!

To make an appointment for your family to see Dr. Preston Polson, please call Meadows Family Dentistry. Our dental office is located here in beautiful Castle Rock, Colorado.