Notes

Most people know the
basics of tooth brushing;
how many times a day to
brush their teeth, and how
long to brush for. But do
you know how long to wait
before you brush your
teeth after a meal, or
which foods help to keep
your teeth clean?
Check out these 10 tips to
make sure you are keeping
your teeth in a great
condition.
1. Wait 30 minutes after
a meal to brush your
teeth
Brushing your teeth
immediately after eating
food can be damaging for
your teeth. During this
time, the pH-level in your
mouth is lower than
normal, and more acidic,
so brushing can be very
abrasive and harmful.
2. Don’t always start
brushing in the same
place
Dentists say most people
normally start brushing
their teeth in the same
place. By the time you
reach the last part, you
may be a little bored and
end up paying less attention
to these areas. Richard
Price, consumer adviser for
the American Dental
Association, recommends
starting in a different place
each time so all of your
teeth receive the same
amount of attention.
3. Be gentle while
brushing your teeth
Most people have different
techniques to brush their
teeth, but some are more
harmful than others. Teeth
need to be brushed lightly,
as harsher brushing can
damage the teeth and erode
gums. Instead of brushing
in long strokes, brush your
teeth in a gentle, circular
motion.
Periodontist Dr. David
Genet recommends
brushing your teeth as
gently as you would clean
priceless furniture. A
telltale way to check if you
are brushing too hard is to
see if the bristles bend on
your teeth. If they do, you
could be brushing too hard.
4. Brush your teeth for
at least two minutes
Most people already know
that the recommended
amount of time to brush
your teeth is two minutes.
But despite that, most
people still don’t brush
long enough.
A good way to make sure
you brush for two minutes
is to turn the water off
while you’re brushing.
Leaving the tap on often
makes people mentally try
to speed the job up, so they
are less likely to brush for
as long as they need to.
Another method to try is
playing music while you do
your teeth, so you know
how much time has passed.
5. Pay attention to your
molars and the inner
side of your teeth
While this might sound
logical, many people brush
their front teeth more than
the rest. While these are
the teeth people see, all of
your teeth need equal
attention. Pay extra
attention to your molars
and the inner side of your
teeth, as these are the parts
your tongue is most often
pressed against.
6. Make sure you are
using the right kind of
toothbrush
Often people use
toothbrushes that are too
big or small for the size of
their mouth, which can
stop them from reaching all
areas of their mouth.
Another common problem
is using a toothbrush with
bristles that are too stiff, as
this can damage your
gums. The American Dental
Association recommends a
soft brush, so make sure
your brush isn’t too stiff
for your gums.
7. Eat fruit and
vegetables to naturally
clean teeth
A useful tip to keep your
teeth clean when you’re out
of the house and don’t have
the opportunity to brush, is
to eat fruit and vegetables,
such as apples and celery.
Raw fruits and vegetables
are filled with fiber, a
natural abrasive that
gently removes plaque.
Rinse with water to help
remove any stray bacteria,
and brush and floss your
teeth once you get home.
8. Keep your brush
clean
Although your toothbrush
looks clean after you have
finished brushing, bacteria
that can cause bad breath
and cavities can grow on
the brush. Rinse the brush
when you’ve finished to
help remove the harmful
bacteria.
It is also useful to buy a
cup to keep your
toothbrush in, as leaving
the toothbrush touching
the sink or counter makes
it more likely to pick up
other bacteria’s from your
bathroom.
9, Replace your
toothbrush every three
to four mouths
Although many people
struggle to brush their teeth
for long enough, most hold
onto their toothbrushes for
far too long. The American
Dental Association
recommends changing your
brush every three to four
months, as the bristles
become frayed and less
effective, and the brush can
gather bacteria on the
brush and handle.
10. Floss your teeth
daily
Although tooth brushing is
an extremely effective way
to keep your teeth clean,
bristles often cannot reach
in between your teeth,
where food and bacteria
can build up and develop
into tartar.
While it does not matter if
you floss before or after
brushing your teeth, it is
an important part of
keeping your whole mouth
clean and healthy.