Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you. In fact, humans can recognize someone’s smile from up to 300 feet away. That’s almost the length of a standard football field!
With such an important feature front and center, maintaining healthy gums and bright teeth is critical: not just for those first impressions, but for your overall health. Regular teeth cleaning is a key part of maintaining optimal oral health and general well-being. That’s why we’ve compiled all our best tips for keeping clean teeth, gums, and a radiant smile.
Common Teeth Cleaning Mistakes
Right next to the common cold, tooth decay is one of the most common diseases. While many of us may have grown up watching cartoon characters model the importance of tooth brushing, that doesn’t guarantee that we know the proper brushing techniques for thorough teeth cleaning.
Here are some of the most common teeth-cleaning mistakes we see in our practice:
- Brushing too infrequently
- Not brushing for the recommended amount of time
- Keeping a toothbrush for too long
- Improper toothbrush storage
- Forgetting to floss
Proper Brushing Techniques
Many Americans spend only about 45 seconds brushing each dayIt’s estimated that 80% of people will have at least one cavity before the age of 17. Combining these facts, it’s easy to see how improper teeth cleaning techniques play a role in our overall oral hygiene.
Proper brushing techniques include:
- Choosing the right toothbrush
- Brushing effectively
- Following the 2/2 rule
- Flossing
- Toothbrush storage and replacement
1. Choose The Right Toothbrush
To begin, choosing the right toothbrush is critical. Most of us gravitate toward hard bristle brushes because we equate this with better cleaning. However, harder bristled brushes won’t clean your teeth effectively since the fibers aren’t able to bend to the curves of each tooth.
Instead, choose gentle fibers that can reach the nooks and crannies of your teeth, more effectively. Not only do softer bristled toothbrushes clean better, but they’re easier on the soft tissues of your mouth.
2. How To Brush Effectively
Using a small amount of toothpaste, place the toothbrush against your teeth, near the gumline, at a 45-degree angle. Then move the toothbrush back and forth, making sure to brush teeth on both sides and across the top. Use small, circular motions or short sweeping strokes to provide a thorough clean and scrub.
Once your teeth are completely brushed, make sure to brush your tongue. Then rinse and, like magic, you’ve got clean teeth.
3. The 2/2 Rule
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing for at least 2-minutes, twice per day. While you may brush more than twice per day, the 2/2 rule is the general rule of thumb for optimal oral hygiene health. Some tips for ensuring and enforcing the 2-minute rule include:
- Choosing a 2-minute long song to listen to while brushing
- Utilizing the timer on your cell phone
4. Don’t Forget The Floss
Food particles, bacteria, and grime live in your mouth all the time. While brushing twice per day using the proper techniques is imperative for teeth cleaning, toothbrushes can only clean around 60% of your teeth’s surface area.
Interdental cleaning through flossing can remove those hidden, sometimes stubborn debris from between each tooth, ensuring a clean, healthy mouth. It’s important to note that unlike brushing, flossing once per day is usually adequate. A local dentist can help determine what is the right choice for you.
5. Store Your Toothbrush Properly
Despite how clean your bathroom stays, bacteria and other disgusting stuff thrive in the warm, enclosed space. To protect your teeth and mouth from added germs, toothbrush storage is a key consideration when it comes to keeping your teeth clean.
When you’re finished brushing, rinse the toothbrush off and store it upright. Make sure the toothbrush has adequate airflow. Avoid placing the wet bristles inside an airtight container, as this can encourage bacteria growth. The best solution is to use a toothbrush cap, storing it inside a toothbrush holder.
6. Toothbrush Replacement
The final aspect of proper brushing techniques is replacing that raggedy old toothbrush. Over time, bristles break down and lose their effectiveness. Bacteria, germs, and other ugly stuff will begin to grow no matter how well it is stored.
Some toothbrushes and electric toothbrush heads feature color-changing technology to indicate when it’s officially time for a new tooth scrubber. For toothbrushes without this visible reminder, the ADA recommends replacing all toothbrushes and toothbrush heads every 3-4 months. A good indication it’s time for a replacement is when the bristles are frayed, curved, or becoming noticeably worn.
How To Choose The Right Toothpaste
By now you’ve got the right toothbrush and cleaning tips in your oral health hygiene toolkit, but what about toothpaste? With so many options filling up the aisle, it can be hard to know where to begin or which toothpaste will work best for you.
The first and most important thing to know about toothpaste selection is looking for the ADA Seal. For a product to attain the approval of the ADA, it must contain adequate amounts of fluoride for proper tooth protection.
Once you’ve checked the list of ADA-approved products, consider if you’d prefer a toothpaste that whitens and brightens, decreases sensitivity, or simply provides a refreshing dose of cinnamon flavor while you brush. Always choose a toothpaste you like, as this increases the likelihood of staying in the twice-daily brushing habit.
How To Choose The Right Mouthwash
Next, let’s take a look at mouthwash. As with toothpaste, the ADA recommends products that contain low amounts of sugar and an adequate amount of fluoride. Beyond those recommendations, mouthwash comes in three distinct types:
- Antiseptic
- Preventative
- Plaque-Inhibiting
Certain antiseptic mouthwashes are only used under special circumstances, like infection prevention after a tooth extraction. In general, basic mouthwashes with the ADA approval seal will feature overlapping benefits of all three types.
Like with toothpaste selection, choosing a mouthwash you prefer will make a difference when it comes to regular use. An alcohol-free mouthwash is generally preferable for sensitive teeth, for example.
One last critical note on mouthwash usage is to make sure you aren’t using it as a replacement for brushing and flossing. It’s designed to be used in conjunction with regularly scheduled teeth cleanings at your local dentist, ADA-approved toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash products.
Teeth Cleaning For The Whole Family
At Eriks Dental Group, we’re proud to provide teeth cleaning and oral health services to every member of the family. In addition to our comprehensive cleaning services, Eriks Dental Group in Boynton Beach provides teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, root canals, and more.
Schedule an appointment today at 561-733-4004 for a routine cleaning or a basic dental exam, and see the difference we can make for your smile.