How to Chose a Toothbrush, and Brush your Teeth Properly
As a dentist one of my most important jobs is to educate people on how to take care of their oral health through proper oral hygiene, by demonstrating proper technique and recommending the right tools to achieve optimal oral health. Some may think brushing and flossing is not a big deal, but it is a crucial task that can affect the health of your entire body. The mechanical removal of plaque and bacteria from your teeth, i.e. brushing and flossing, is the single best way to prevent cavities and gingival disease. Did you know that inflammation in the mouth from infections like cavities, abscesses and periodontal disease can increase your chances of having diabetes, heart disease, and a slew of other inflammatory diseases, and that having a chronic disease can affect healing in your mouth [1,2]?
Many patient's ask me what toothbrush should I use? Choosing the right toothbrush can be an overwhelming task because there are so many choices, right? There are manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, plastic toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes, soft, hard, medium, angled, skinny handle, wide handle, and there are even toothbrushes that claim to brush for you. When choosing a toothbrush, one should remember that it is more essential to know how to use a toothbrush and why, than which one you choose. So here are some guidelines to help make it easier to make your decision:
Step #1: Soft toothbrush ONLY!
Using a soft toothbrush is counter intuitive, because our brains tell us that we must scrub as hard as we can to clean our teeth just like we do when we are cleaning the grout in the bathroom. That is the opposite of what we should do, in fact, hard and medium toothbrushes are only for cleaning grout, and here is why; Hard or medium bristles are too stiff to bend into the spaces between teeth as pictured below, whereas a soft toothbrush can easily sweep these areas. Hard toothbrushes can damage your gums and teeth by causing gingival recession, toothbrush abrasion, and sensitivity-which may need to be repaired by a dentist.
SOFT vs. HARD
Step #2: Brush Properly for at least 2 minutes
At this point you may be thinking, "but Doc, my teeth don't feel clean unless I use a hard toothbrush!" When people do this, they are unknowingly leaving plaque and build up in reachable areas that are not detected until they go to the dentist, causing unwanted and expensive disease! Let me show you how to brush your teeth properly. By the way, everyone should brush for a minimum of two minutes (at least twice a day) to allow yourself enough time to brush all areas of the mouth efficiently.
Angle your toothbrush 45 degrees toward your gumline to allow the brush to not only brush your teeth, but under and along your gumline where a lot of plaque accumulates. Then gently brush two or three teeth at a time for 30-40 strokes. Do this on the cheek side of the teeth, and the tongue side of all the teeth. Work your way around each arch, taking your time so you don't miss a spot-this is why you brush for two minutes or longer. Time yourself until you have made this a habit.
45 degree angle toward the gumline
Brush behind your upper and lower front teeth by holding your toothbrush vertically as shown below, because a square can't fit into a circle, and this allows you to brush each tooth individually.
Hold your toothbrush vertically to brush behind the lower and upper front teeth
Brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Brush the biting surfaces of your teeth as shown
Don't forget to use a tongue brush or tongue scraper to clean your tongue, often a source of unwanted bad breath.
Finally, Replace your toothbrush every three months, and when you are sick
If you brush as demonstrated with the awareness that you are trying to make sure your teeth are clean, you can reduce your chances of disease. After you brush, ensure that you floss to remove plaque from interproximal surfaces or in between your teeth and gums. Use this technique and ask your dentist how you are doing at your dental check up.
Common mistakes:
Brushing too fast: If you brush too fast and don't allow enough time to properly clean each surface of your teeth you will leave plaque and bacteria behind that no amazing toothpaste or mouthwash can remove. Would you leave the shower, knowing that you did not clean all of the necessary areas?
Brushing too hard: This will create the affect of a hard toothbrush and splay the bristles out so far that they can no longer get in between the teeth, and this can also cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Brushing without intention: A lot of people think about brushing as a chore, something you have to do when you wake up or before you go to bed. There is a true purpose to brushing, that takes proper focus. You must become proud that you take care of your teeth so you can take care of your whole health.
Forgetting to floss: Flossing must be done at least once per day. We will go over how and why to floss in another blog post.
Remember it is not what you use, it is how you use it!
A little info about us: We wanted to reduce our impact on the environment and wanted a toothbrush that was sustainable and biodegradable. This is why we chose the brushes sold in our shop, La Boca Mama, and started this blog, so we could help people improve their oral health by promoting education in addition to an effective toothbrush that will get the job done. Our brush stands on its own, has a wider handle for easy grip, and has soft, wispy bristles that easily brush in between your teeth.
-By Natalie Layne DDS, MPH
Stay tuned for our next blog on Brushing your Child's Teeth!
If there are any topics you would like us to cover, email us at admin@labocamama.com
Watch our educational videos in the video content section of the website when available!
References:
Raju K, Taylor GW, Tahir P, Hyde S. Association of tooth loss with morbidity and mortality by diabetes status in older adults: a systematic review. BMC Endocr Disord. 2021 Oct 19;21(1):205. doi: 10.1186/s12902-021-00830-6. PMID: 34663281; PMCID: PMC8524900.
Gao S, Tian J, Li Y, Liu T, Li R, Yang L, Xing Z. Periodontitis and Number of Teeth in the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis. Med Sci Monit. 2021 Aug 23;27:e930112. doi: 10.12659/MSM.930112. PMID: 34421117; PMCID: PMC8394608.
