It used to be that people would be taught to brush their teeth either side to side, or up and down. This was how the parents were taught, so this is how they taught their children, too. The school of thought on that type of brushing has drastically changed over the last decade or two, and now, the dangers of brushing like that are better realized.

If you are of the school of thought that brushing in a straight line was the way to go, then you should be aware, you could be damaging your oral health.

How You Need to Be Brushing

To start, you need to hold your toothbrush at an angle. If you hold it flat to your teeth, you are only pushing some of the bacteria and dirt around. It should be about a forty-five-degree angle to your gums.

Then, you need to make sure that you move the toothbrush around in circles. By using a circular motion, you are able to release more of the debris that your teeth have been holding on to, and then the toothbrush is better able to push it off of the teeth.

You will also reach into more of the gaps, cracks, and crevices in your teeth, getting a larger portion of each tooth clean each time you brush. Finally, make sure you also brush around each tooth when you brush.

This should include the inside, outside, and the chewing surface of your tooth. If you forget any of those areas, then you are likely going to leave debris behind that may cause a cavity.

If you need a little guidance as to how to best care for your teeth, then contact our office. During your next exam, they can show you the best method to use to brush effectively.