Dentists are known to advice their patients to strictly adhere to the following brushing method so as to prevent any future cosmetic dentist appointments. Your dentist can make sure that you are doing it appropriately for your requirements.

Always use synthetic soft bristled brush. Natural bristles have way too many cavities in them and are a safe hiding spot for bacteria. Smaller bristles are better than larger ones.

The bristles should be held at an angle of 45 degrees with your teeth and you should let the brush go under the gums.

Move the bristles to and forth so as to remove any plaque getting accumulated under the gums.

Make sure you brush the outside, inside and chewing side of your teeth.

Hold your brush vertically and brush the inside of your front teeth and gum by moving your brush up and down.

As food particles and bacteria can accumulate on your teeth and cause bad breath, brushing your teeth can be helpful to avoid this. At any time, your brush is cleaning only one or two teeth and hence you need to change the angle of your brush so as to clean all your teeth. The best time for your daily brushing is bedtime. If you can brush after every meal, that would be much better. 3 minutes is the minimum time you need to spend on brushing. Brushing too harshly or using very hard bristles can cause your gums to recede and this will make your roots vulnerable. This may affect the teeth harmfully. Your teeth may become too sensitive. All the fluoride toothpaste you need to use is of a pea's size. It is time to change your brush when the bristles start to spread, as it won't help you to clean your teeth properly.

How Should I Choose And Use A Toothbrush?

There are a whole variety of toothbrushes out there like angled heads, slanted bristles, oscillating tufts, handles that change colors, those offering extra efficiency etc. There is no scientific proof for any of these being superior to any other. But how you brush your teeth can make a whole lot of difference. One common mistake for many is not to spend enough time in brushing and this will not clean all the harmful bacteria of your mouth. 3 minutes or more of brushing is necessary to do a good job.

Which Is The Best Toothbrush?

An ideal toothbrush must have a small head of roughly 1"X.5" so that it can go in to between all areas of your teeth and jaws properly. Easily accessible long handle is a must for handling the brush easily. Ideal bristles should be soft nylon ones with rounded tips so as to protect your gums.

When Do I Change My Toothbrush?

Changing your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head routinely is very important. You should get a new toothbrush before the bristles become deformed. These bristles can be hiding places for bacteria and they won't do a thorough clean up job as well. One toothbrush is usually good enough for only a period of three to four months. Any time you fall sick, you should get a new toothbrush and again change it when you are completely cured.

Is It Necessary To Brush Before Going To Bed?

Never slack on the bedtime brushing regimen, as bacteria will be happy to work on the left out food particles all night long without any disturbance. When you are awake, saliva formed in your mouth is going to flush these bacteria out. As this risk is not there bacteria can cause more trouble at nighttime. So, nighttime brushing is the most important one.

How Should I Brush My Baby's Teeth?

Plaque is constantly being built on all portions of your teeth that are outside the gum. Tooth brushing regularly can help in controlling this problem. Always get toothbrushes with soft bristles with rounded tips. Toothbrushes for kids are usually smaller than adult toothbrushes. Kids naturally do not have the flexibility to brush properly. As such the parents will have to help them in brushing thoroughly until they are 8 to 10 years old. Throw the brush away and get a new one when the bristles start to lose their shape. Any Left over food particles and plaque can be removed from teeth by regular brushing. Many dental problems like tooth decay and gum problems are caused due to plaque build up. Properly brushing and flossing every day is the best home remedy for handling plaque.

Can A Toothbrush Cause Dental Problems?

If you have cold and sinus problems, get a new toothbrush and see if there is any difference. Bacteria residing in your toothbrush are known as a reason for frequent cold and sore throat. In order to prevent the repeated occurrence of cold, make sure you get a new toothbrush each at the start of cold and after you get the condition under control. Bacteria are known to enjoy their life on soft toothbrush bristles and even on their handles. Viruses can stay alive for many days on opaque brush handles. As light passes through transparent handles, the viruses will die faster in them.

In electric toothbrushes, the oscillatory or rotary motion of their bristles is doing the cleaning job. Some of these bristles are arranged as tufts in round shape or some as tufts in traditional pattern. Most people will bleed a little when they use electric brushes for the very first time. Once your gums get used to the electric toothbrushes and you learn how to use it properly, this bleeding will stop. As is the case with manual tooth brushing, electric tooth brushing on kids under 10 also should be under the watchful eyes of an adult. Go slow and steady when you use your electric toothbrush as opposed to being rough on your teeth. Let the electric toothbrush clean the teeth for you.

Electric Toothbrush Vs Manual Toothbrush

Be it electric or manual, you must brush for a minimum of three minutes each, two times every day. And flossing is really important to go with it.

Regular toothbrushes get rid of only half of the plaque accumulated on your teeth surface. Electric Toothbrushes Have Been Proven To Provide The Following In Scientific Studies:

Plaque build up is reduced in kids and adults
Needs only much lower level of force applied while brushing
Reduction in gum bleeding
Users are known to brush for longer periods of time
Kids love to use the electric version over the manual one due to the smaller size, repetitive brush movement and accessibility to all sides of the teeth
Electric tooth brushes follow the right brushing technique
Lower occurrence of gingivitis
Increase in routine brushing

Electric Toothbrushes Are The Best Under These Circumstances:

For people with disabilities or lack of flexibility affecting their ability to brush properly
They can clean a lot better for those who wearing braces
Small size of brush head and accessibility to all areas of the mouth make it perfect for kids
As many people love gadgets, the timer on some electric brushes can be an incentive for many to brush longer
A kid may be more interested to brush using a electric gadget than a regular tooth brush
You don't need to waste as much energy as you exert with a manual tooth brush
Dentist may ask you to use an electric tooth brush so as to bring your dental problem under control
As too much force is not used with an electric brush, chances of gum recession are reduced

Tips For Electric Toothbrushes Provided By Users

You only need to apply half of the pressure you used to apply with your regular toothbrush. Just hold the brush with three fingers and the force will be adequate.
You can brush each tooth for two seconds of time. Or you may spend half a minute each on each of the four sections of your teeth, holding the brush at a 30 to 40 degree angle.
Brush at least for three minutes of time and make sure you brush the inside of the teeth. Never skip the teeth that are all the way at the back of your mouth.
Get a new brush head after using for 6 months or so, as damaged brush head won't clean your teeth thoroughly.
Make sure you clean your brush head after every use. Once a week, remove the brush head and do an intense cleaning