BRUSHING PROPERLY
- Floss first
- Always use a soft brush. Medium and hard bristles can contribute to abrasion.
- Do not use large-headed brushes. They are not as maneuverable.
- Sonicare and Braun Oral B are the only mechanical brushes we recommend
- Choose a brush that tapers a bit at the tip
- Don't go fancy with bizarre bristle styles
- Use a "regular" toothpaste. Not whitening. Not gel. Not tartar control. They are all abrasive.
- Do not use baking soda out of the box or salt
- Use an amount of toothpaste about the size of a pea or two
- Don't swallow the toothpaste
- Angle the bristles 45 degrees into your gumline
- Scrub back and forth or make small circles, along the gumline
- If using a Sonicare or Braun, let the brush do the work. Don't press hard. Always buy the small toothbrush heads.
- The purpose is to brush the crevice between your teeth and gums
- Brush only two or three teeth at a time
- The further back you brush, the more your mouth should be closed to allow freedom of movement
- Make sure that your tongue doesn't push the bristles away from your gums when brushing the insides
- Often the toothbrush must be stood on end to effectively brush the inside of the front teeth
- Then scrub the biting surfaces of the teeth
- It's OK to then go back and "free style" again all over the teeth
- Brush your tongue and your palate
- Rinse thoroughly
- Change your brush every 2-3 months
