Word of Mouth
July 22, 2005

Don’t rush, brush

We know we have to brush daily, and most of us do, but how effective are we when we brush.

Someone once told me that her husband brushes as if he has a plane to catch and how effective is that? {{more}}Brushing your teeth can prevent so many diseases in your mouth and it is important to take you time when you are doing it, a two minute bath will not wash away half the dirt on your body, neither will a two second brush get rid of the plaque.

It is advisable to brush with the radio on, as it is recommended that you brush for at least 3-4 minutes, the average length of a song. Another alternative, an egg timer.

There are several techniques that can be used to brush your teeth, one effective, easy to remember technique involves using a circular motion to brush a couple teeth at a time. Hold your toothbrush against your teeth at a 45-degree angle and brush in a circular motion. Start in the same place everytime, whether it is the lower back teeth on the inside and going right around, and then the outside of your lower teeth, ending with the biting surface. On completing the lower, concentrate on the upper following a similar route. Do not forget to brush your tongue, it often is the source of bad breath. Most people, especially men, like to brush back and forth in a scrubbing motion, this technique can cause the gum to recede exposing the roots of your teeth.