What's the right way to brush your teeth?
For most people, brushing your teeth is a regular part of your morning (and evening) routine. Much like washing your face, getting dressed or putting on your makeup, it is an effortless habit that becomes so natural that little detail or attention is required - that is if you’re doing it the right way. Yes, you read right. It’s more than just up and down, side to side and spit. There is a way to correctly brush your teeth (And it’s not absent-mindedly doing it while you ponder life and stare in the bathroom mirror) and learning how to do it properly makes all the difference for your oral health.
And it really isn’t hard to learn. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) outlines an easy to follow guide that teaches you everything from:
How many times a day you need to brush (after every meal or once in the morning and once in the night)
How long you should brush (2-3 minutes), and
When to replace your toothbrush (every three months)
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To get a more in-depth look at the art of brushing, which is more interesting than you think (no, really), we spoke to Dr. James Posluns, Director of Clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, who is also a practicing orthodontist that has more than 20 years experience.
There is a right way to brush your teeth
And it’s called the “modified Stillman technique.”
“It’s sort of a rolling, brushing away from the gums,” describes Posluns. “It is taking the fine edge of a soft bristle toothbrush and taking it up to the gum line and sweeping down from the gum line on the upper teeth and up from the gum line on the lower teeth.” He says this technique avoids the back and forth hard scrubbing technique you may fall prey to when brushing your teeth.
Soft toothbrushes only
It doesn’t matter if you like the ol’ fashioned handle or the electronic styles, what’s important is how soft the bristles are on your teeth and gums.
“You definitely want to avoid a hard toothbrush because anything with a hard bristle will cause micro trauma to the gingival margins (the margins of the gum line), which causes the gum line to recede back,” cautions Posluns.
Your dentist is usually the best person to ask for recommendations on what design is best suited for you.
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Do your research on toothpastes
If you’re like me and get overwhelmed when you walk down the toothpaste aisle, it might help to understand that it isn’t the brand you choose that’s important as much as what is in the toothpaste that counts. Dr. Posluns recommends that whichever one you choose, it should have some sort of defined amount of fluoride in it and the seal of approval from the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). He also points out that using one that is fluoride free is completely your choice, but keep in mind your dental history (i.e prone to cavities) as you want to use one that is beneficial to your situation.
How brushing helps prevent cavities
If you ever wondered the relation between brushing your teeth and cavities, here is a very quick lesson: you need bacteria, the person and the environment – what he calls a “three-prong relationship” – for cavities to happen. Brushing your teeth helps remove one of the prongs (bacteria), which decreases the potential of a cavity. Simple, no? He says this is the reason why someone who eats deserts every evening, but brushes their teeth after they do is less likely to get a cavity than someone who addictively eats candy and doesn’t brush their teeth right away.
“The way it works is that you have a baseline level of acidity in your mouth and when you eat something the level of acidity goes up,” he explains. “If you go in with a toothbrush you immediately lower this peak of acidity.”
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What a healthy oral routine looks like
To get and maintain healthy teeth and gums, Posluns suggests brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
“Consistency is key,” he stresses. “Not sort of doing it one day or doing it for three and then not doing it and coming back. You have to be consistent.”
He recommends bringing a toothbrush to school or work and brushing after you eat. If you’re too busy or are prone to flip flop, at least rinsing your mouth with water and chewing sugarless gum can help increase salivary flow and help wash away decay and bacteria.
