We all know that brushing your teeth regularly is important, but have you tried using an electric toothbrush? They’re recommended for that deep clean feeling that you don’t often get with a regular manual brush. Here are some steps to getting the best cleansing out of your toothbrush.
You want to make sure you’re getting the best possible clean from your electric toothbrush and to do this check the unit is sufficiently charged. As the battery loses power, the brush’s vibrations will slow down and won’t give the same quality of cleaning. Try and buy a toothbrush with a rechargeable battery pack, as buying new batteries regularly could get expensive. Most rechargeable toothbrush batteries last around a week.
Similar to manual brushes, it is recommended that you change the brush head every 3 months, as it will help with the standard of the cleaning while brushing. Another way on maintaining your toothbrush is to rinse the bristles before and after brushing, as this will prevent dirt build up within the brush. It is important to check the quality of the bristles regularly to ensure it’s suitable to use on your teeth. They should be soft with no sharp or jagged ends. Also, if the bristles are starting to fall out it’s extremely important to change your brush head.
Before applying your toothpaste, run the brush under some water as this will increase the efficiency of the paste. Fluoride toothpaste is best for keeping away plaque build up and strengthening your teeth. A pea-sized amount of paste is suggested to clean your teeth effectively with.
The beauty of electric cleaning is that you don’t need to do as much work as with a manual toothbrush as the brush’s inbuilt movement will do most of the work for you. To make sure you are brushing your teeth well, keep the bristles at a 45-degree angle to your gum line and follow the shape of your teeth. Ensure that you brush every surface area in your mouth, including your tongue and roof of the mouth. This is to prevent any bacteria from building up. Only apply slight pressure when brushing your teeth as too much can damage gums and teeth.
Dentist’s recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. Most electronic toothbrushes have an inbuilt timer, which is handy. Another way to keep track of your brushing time is to split your mouth into quarters and brush each quarter for 30 seconds. For example; top right, top left, bottom right and bottom left.
There are some extra steps you can take as well as brushing your teeth to increase oral hygiene. One of these is using mouthwash after you’ve brushed as it helps to wash away any remaining dirt that may have been missed while brushing. Another step that’s highly recommended by dentists is to use dental floss daily; this is to remove any bacteria from between teeth that toothbrushes can’t get to.
To ensure you’re taking best possible care of your teeth it is important to visit the dentist twice a year. They can let you know if you’re doing a good job and give you some advice on how to improve your dental hygiene.
You must be logged in to post a comment.