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How to use a toothbrush - toothbrush
and toothpaste usage
The first step
is to choose a good toothbrush. You always want to use a soft brush with a
small head. A soft brush is hard enough to remove plaque and soft enough,
not to damage your teeth or gum
 The next
issue is to choose a good toothpaste. In general any toothpaste that
contains Fluoride will do the job, unless you have a special need that is
determined by your dentist. Two of the best brands of toothpastes are
Colgate Total and Crest Multicare.
The first
rule of brushing is to start from a specific location and work your way to
the opposite side and all the way through the whole mouth so that you end
where you started. This way you won’t
miss any area. Also usually a pea size of tooth paste is
 enough. A good brushing should at lease take 2
minutes and ideally around 4 minutes.
There are
many different techniques for brushing your teeth but one of the most
popular ones is described here:
Hold the
brush with a 45 degree angle toward the teeth and the gum. Gently press
against the gum so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the
teeth. Then apply lateral vibration for a few times and roll down the brush to
sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. Repeat this motion 6 to 10
times and move on to the next area of 2 to 3 teeth. If your mouth is full of
foam, spit out and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you
have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth and not when your mouth is full!
 On chewing
surfaces, short strokes will work best to get the plaque out of the grooves
and pits. Also when brushing the front teeth from inside, hold your brush
vertically to be able to reach the teeth better.
As far as frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally you want to
brush your teeth after each meal. But if you can't, brush at least twice a
day after breakfast and before going to bed.
Back to Oral Health
Topics
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How to brush your teeth