Many people brush their teeth incorrectly – using a sawing, or horizontal, motion.
Brushing incorrectly can cause trauma or recession to your gums and, in some cases, can damage your teeth. The correct method is to brush your teeth up and down in a soft manner with a circular motion.
When brushing your teeth:
- Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your brush.
- Pick a starting point on the left or right side of your mouth.
- Move the brush around your mouth, brushing the front and back of your teeth.
- Spend one minute on each side of your mouth, staying close to the gum line (but be gentle). This is to ensure that you remove all plaque and food debris.
Brushing your tongue is also beneficial in keeping bacteria and odors from your mouth.
To remember how long and often to brush your teeth, ImmediaDent suggests using the two-by-two rule – twice a day for two minutes in a continuous motion.
Note: Be careful brushing around your canines (the front teeth that have one rounded or pointed edge used for biting). Brushing too hard in this area can do major damage, such as recession, which may lead to tooth sensitivity or even cavities.
