You might feel like you’re pretty good at brushing your teeth. Most people start brushing on their own between the ages of 4-8, so it’s easy to assume that, since we’ve been doing it so long, we know what we’re doing. However, think back to when you last reevaluated your brushing habits. Chances are, it’s been a while!
Brushing your teeth is perhaps the most important part of your daily hygiene routine and at different times of our lives, our teeth have different needs. This is why it’s important to be aware of the needs of your teeth in order to properly care for them.
Brushing Basics
- Twice Daily – The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Both in the morning and in the evening before bed. However, it’s also a good idea to brush in between meals as well, just to make sure no food debris is allowed to accumulate in the mouth during the daytime hours.
- Two Minutes Each Time – If you’re spending less than two minutes brushing your teeth, odds are that you aren’t thoroughly cleaning each tooth. There are plenty of ways you can make sure you’re spending the right amount of time brushing. These can include timers, phone apps, brushing for the length of a song, or an entire commercial break on television.
- Check Your Bristles – We suggest that you use a toothbrush with medium or soft bristles to avoid doing any damage to your gum tissue. Make sure you’re replacing your toothbrush every 6 months or when the bristles begin to fray, whichever comes first. Lastly, it’s important to check the packaging on your brush to find the ADA approval seal. This ensures that the brush has undergone testing and is safe to use.
- Be Gentle – Lastly, brushing aggressively won’t make your teeth any cleaner and it may even damage your gum tissue. Try to be gentle when brushing, we promise that a lighter touch is just as effective.
For more great tips on how to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful, or if you need to make an appointment with Dr. Ryan Jenkins, please don’t hesitate to contact Littleton Implants & Periodontics. Our periodontal office is located in Littleton, Colorado.