Brushing
The best reminder is NO HARD BRUSH AND NO HARD BRUSHING. Plaque itself is a soft
material and it does not require hard or vigorous brushing in order to clean it off
the tooth surface. Proper cleaning that reaches to all surfaces of the teeth
will do the job. For brushing, use ONLY soft (or even ultra or extra soft) toothbrush.
There are several brands on the market or you could ask your regular dentist
for his recommendation.
To brush the sides of the teeth, hold the brush at an angle to the teeth so that the
bristles of the brush covers the side of the teeth and the gums below. With gentle
pressure, brush in a small circular motion, covering small sections at a time. To clean
behind the last molars, use the front end of the brush-head to reach the back
surface of the teeth, at the same time lifting up the handle of the brush,
also brushing in a small, circular fashion. To brush the biting surface, press the bristles
of the brush vertically over the top surface and brush in a circular fashion.
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Do not brush with long, quick strokes. This will cause abrasion to the gum and receding
gums. The root that becomes exposed often get worn out, resulting in abrasion cavities.
These teeth often become sensitive to cold, or hot food, and some substances like sugar
and acids in our food. If unchecked, the pulp (or the 'nerve') of the tooth could become
damaged.
Replace your toothbrush at least every 3 months. Often by then, the bristles would
be worn out and the brush can no longer effectively remove plaque from the teeth
surfaces. Also, a toothbrush kept for too long becomes unhygienic and harbour
potentially harmful bacteria.
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Flossing
In addition to brushing, the daily oral hygeine regime must include the use
of the dental floss. Do this once every day, at night before brushing. This
gets at the in-between surfaces of the teeth that no toothbrush can clean.
Some dental floss comes with toothpick-like handles, but very often these handles
are too flimsy for proper manipulation and effective cleaning. The best way is
by having the floss rolled and held on the tips of two index fingers.
Placing the floss between two teeth, bring it through the contact with a
saw-like motion. Wrapping the floss against one tooth, gently glide it under
the gum level, and while still pressing the floss on the tooth surface, glide it
out, at the same time scraping the surface clean. Do this again but this time
cleaning the other tooth. Do this systematically, starting from
the midline and proceeding to the back teeth.
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FAQs
Doesn't a harder brush and brushing hard make your teeth cleaner?
You can be sure it does, BUT this will almost certainly result in
receding gums and abrasion cavities.
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