Are you brushing properly? - Most of us are rushing our brushing. Do you know how to do it correctly?
In an average lifetime you will spend 38.5 days cleaning your teeth. But how do you know you're doing it right? Seven in 10 Australians admit they should be doing a better job caring for their teeth, according to an Australian Dental Association (ADA) report.
Dr Peter Alldritt, chairman of the ADA's Oral Health Committee, says most people are impatient and rush the brushing process.
"It only takes two minutes," Alldritt says. "It's not much time out of your day."
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found there has also been a decline in tooth brushing frequency in children.
Dr Eva Kaiser, principal scientist for Oral-B oral care, says it can be difficult to get young children to brush their teeth but you need to persevere.
She suggests letting children do it themselves in the morning but brushing their teeth for them at night. "The key is to keep it fun," she says. "Otherwise they lose motivation and it's hard to get that back. Children should still brush for two minutes."
Get your technique right
If you want a perfect smile, getting your technique right is just as important as the frequency of your brushing.
"Plaque starts to form right near the gum line and not where we bite, so you need to aim the toothbrush at the gum line," Alldritt says.
Kaiser suggests using the modified bass technique, which essentially means brushing from the bottom of the tooth to the gum line and then brushing tooth to tooth with circular movements.
"Imagine your mouth is split into four areas: top left, bottom left, top right and bottom right," she says. "Each quadrant should be brushed for 30 seconds and the inside, outside and biting surface should be cleaned."
But teeth should be cleaned and not scrubbed. Kaiser says more than 90 per cent of people scrub their teeth, which can create a lifetime of problems.
Aldritt agrees. "Some people scrub so hard, they clean the plaque off but also abrade the enamel and cause permanent damage."
An indication that you're pressing too hard is if the bristles on your toothbrush are splayed after only a week or two of use.
Common brushing mistakes
Tips from the experts
In an average lifetime you will spend 38.5 days cleaning your teeth. But how do you know you're doing it right? Seven in 10 Australians admit they should be doing a better job caring for their teeth, according to an Australian Dental Association (ADA) report.
Dr Peter Alldritt, chairman of the ADA's Oral Health Committee, says most people are impatient and rush the brushing process.
"It only takes two minutes," Alldritt says. "It's not much time out of your day."
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found there has also been a decline in tooth brushing frequency in children.
Dr Eva Kaiser, principal scientist for Oral-B oral care, says it can be difficult to get young children to brush their teeth but you need to persevere.
She suggests letting children do it themselves in the morning but brushing their teeth for them at night. "The key is to keep it fun," she says. "Otherwise they lose motivation and it's hard to get that back. Children should still brush for two minutes."
Get your technique right
If you want a perfect smile, getting your technique right is just as important as the frequency of your brushing.
"Plaque starts to form right near the gum line and not where we bite, so you need to aim the toothbrush at the gum line," Alldritt says.
Kaiser suggests using the modified bass technique, which essentially means brushing from the bottom of the tooth to the gum line and then brushing tooth to tooth with circular movements.
"Imagine your mouth is split into four areas: top left, bottom left, top right and bottom right," she says. "Each quadrant should be brushed for 30 seconds and the inside, outside and biting surface should be cleaned."
But teeth should be cleaned and not scrubbed. Kaiser says more than 90 per cent of people scrub their teeth, which can create a lifetime of problems.
Aldritt agrees. "Some people scrub so hard, they clean the plaque off but also abrade the enamel and cause permanent damage."
An indication that you're pressing too hard is if the bristles on your toothbrush are splayed after only a week or two of use.
Common brushing mistakes
- Not brushing for long enough. You need to brush for two full minutes, morning and night.
- Not brushing your gums. Angle your toothbrush to your gum line to make sure you're brushing where the plaque is.
- Brushing too hard. Teeth need to be brushed, not scrubbed.
- Not flossing. Make sure you floss every time you brush.
Tips from the experts
- Power vs manual brush? "A power brush is best because it increases compliance of brushing for two minutes, it brushes all quadrants equally and correct force is applied," Kaiser says.
- Before or after breakfast? If you eat or drink something acidic and brush straight after, you're in danger of removing enamel. Once enamel is gone it can't be replaced, so brush your teeth before you drink that breakfast orange juice.
- How often should brushes be replaced? Studies have shown that after three months of wear and tear, toothbrushes are up to 95 per cent less effective at removing plaque from teeth and gums and can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Is flossing that important? Flossing is an essential part of the teeth-cleaning process. "You can't brush between your teeth and this is where tooth decay starts," Alldritt says. ( bodyandsoul.com.au )
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