“Brushing your teeth too hard can lead to oral health problems and put your mouth at risk for tooth abrasion, tooth sensitivity, and gum recession”. Dr. Rob Andrew Urban Smiles
We recommend that you brush for two full minutes — 30 seconds in each quadrant of your mouth — twice a day. Use the timer on your phone or choose an electric toothbrush that alerts you every 30 seconds.
Proper Brushing Technique
If your toothbrush bristles become frayed very quickly, or your gums are often sore after your brush, there is a good chance that you are applying too much pressure. Here are some tips to help you properly clean your teeth:
- Make sure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth and use short, tooth-wide strokes.
- You should feel the bristles against your gums, but you should never “smash” them down.
- Holding your toothbrush in your non-dominant hand may help you to lighten up on the amount of pressure you apply.
- If you use an electric toothbrush, you do not have to press it hard against your teeth; just make sure it makes contact with them.
- The next time you visit us, ask Dr. Rob or one of the dental hygienists for tips on how you can improve your at-home oral hygiene routine. They will be happy to give you some advice.
Your toothbrush is one of your best friends in your efforts to maintain great oral health… but only if you use it the right way.
Below are some fun facts about teeth we thought you’d enjoy learning about.
- Teeth start to form even before you are born—milk teeth or baby teeth start to form when the baby is in the womb, but they come through when the child is between 6-12 months old.
- Humans have only two sets of teeth in their entire lifetime—baby teeth and permanent teeth. Once you have your permanent teeth, make sure you take good care of them.
- No two people have the same set of teeth—your teeth are as unique as your fingerprint, so be proud of your unique set of teeth.
- Your mouth produces over 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime—that’s enough to fill two swimming pools. Saliva has many uses, including assisting you with your digestion and protects your teeth from bacteria in your mouth.
- An average person spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth over their lifetime.
Visit Urban Smiles Family Dental and lets keep smiling.
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