309-346-2145
Unless you are wealthy enough to hire someone to brush your teeth, it is something that you have been doing your entire life. And after a lifetime of brushing you may think that you have the routine down. On the other hand, there may be a few things to learn about this aspect of dental care.
How old is your toothbrush? If you have had it for three months or longer, it is time to get a new one. Whenever you brush, take a look at the bristles. If they are worn down or flattened, it is time to replace your toothbrush. Children tend to brush their teeth with more energy than adults, so they may need a new toothbrush more often than grownups. Your toothbrush should have soft bristles and its head should be small enough to reach all of your teeth.
How long do you spend brushing your teeth? Ideally, you should brush your teeth for two minutes to do a thorough job. If you think you are spending enough time on your teeth, try timing yourself. You may be surprised. While most people can brush twice a day, people who wear braces need to brush after every meal. When brushing after a meal wait for thirty minutes in order to give your saliva time to clean your mouth of the acids left by your meal.
Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle from to your teeth to start brushing. It is easy to clean the fronts of your teeth, but it is also important to brush the backs and the chewing and biting surfaces. To clean the insides of your front teeth, hold your toothbrush vertically and brush in short, up-and-down strokes.
If you have questions about any aspect of your oral hygiene, if it is time for your regular cleaning and exam, or if you are looking for a family dentist, Dr. Michael Danner would be delighted to meet you. If you live in the Pekin, Illinois, area, call 309-346-2145 today to make an appointment at Danner Family Dentistry.