Brushing Your Teeth

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All dentists agree that you should attempt to brush your teeth at least twice a day for around two minutes. Most people don't come anywhere near to the correct time so a common aid is to use a stopwatch to help you get a feel for the times involved. It is important to use gentle, short strokes as overzealous brushing can lead to a number of dental problems. It is also vital to pay special attention to hard to reach areas such as the back of your teeth, the gum line and particularly around dental crowns, dental tooth fillings or other dental restorations.

Correctly Brushing Teeth

There are four stages to correct brushing. Begin with the upper teeth and clean the outer surfaces. Then do the same on the bottom before doing the inner surfaces. Next you should carefully clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth and brushing your tongue is usually recommended to help prevent halitosis (bad breath).

Importance of Flossing

Regular flossing ensures that your teeth and gums stay healthy by preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing reduces the number of bacteria living between your teeth which feed on the remainders of food debris. As they feed, bacteria produce an acidic byproduct which attacks your teeth.

Types of Toothbrushes

As well as conventional brushes with a simple rectangle of bristles you can also get a number of different types of brush head to brush your teeth. Diamond and V-shaped brushes are designed to allow greater access to hard to reach areas and give better contact with your teeth. There are also a variety of handles available such as flexible or angled handles which can help protect against overzealous brushing. Electric toothbrushes use electricity to move the brush head in an oscillating pattern. Electric toothbrushes were often considered superior to manual brushing but recent studies indicate that the majority of models are no more effective than manual brushing.

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