The importance of brushing our teeth cannot be emphasized more. The idea that brushing our teeth is significant for maintaining our dental health has been drilled into our brains from childhood, even as deeply as the programs first built into computers. But most of us don’t know exactly why we brush our teeth. Understanding the reasons why we brush our teeth is key to doing it better.
In addition, it is frustrating that some of us still make many avoidable mistakes when brushing our teeth daily, such as brushing too hard, using poor technique, not often enough, and not for long enough. However, many toothbrush sellers tend to attempt to persuade you with some unnecessary gimmicks, while hiding the essential problem and not telling you something real. After all, what good is an awesome toothbrush if you don’t use it the right way? Maybe you think you’re already a good brusher? Don’t answer so quickly! Sometimes the truth can come as a bit of a shock. Confusion may be on your mind, so read on for more information. We hope that you can know why we brush our teeth and how to do it properly.
First of all, it is worthwhile to make it clear that we develop the habit of brushing our teeth every day to prevent the growth of plaque that can lead to decay.
What is plaque? Plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth when foods rich in carbohydrates (such as milk, soft drinks, fruit, candy, etc.) are left untouched. As we know, our mouths are home to a large number of bacteria, many of which exhibit a particular fondness for these foods and survive in plaques. When they stuff themselves with your leftovers, they produce acid that eats away at tooth enamel. This poses a serious threat to your oral health, and one of the least damaging is bad breath. What’s more, these acids are likely to erode tooth enamel, causing tooth decay. The presence of cavities can not only affect the appearance of your teeth but also give rise to sensitivity and pain. On a more serious note, it can develop in the roots below the gum line, causing your otherwise healthy natural teeth to fall out all along. In modern society, oral health tends to be increasingly linked to other health issues, such as mental health. As such, plaque is an absolute problem to avoid——it looks ugly, smells bad, feels terrible, and can even lead to other serious and unpredictable health problems.
Unfortunately, many of us rarely focus on plaque areas when brushing our teeth.
But, don’t worry! While plaque can be scary, preventing it isn’t as difficult as you might think. A few skills in life and your attention to some details can be beneficial to prevent plaque. Drinking water, eating fibrous foods, or running your tongue across your teeth, all these things that may help to produce saliva can contribute to preventing plaque from appearing on the visible surface of your teeth. But the real problem is that the front surface of teeth is not where plaque is most likely to build up! The danger areas are between each tooth and between teeth and the gum, which are difficult to reach and clean. We use a toothbrush to help clean these areas where plaque tends to accumulate. There are toothbrushes on the market with ultra-fine and ultra-soft bristles that are designed to get into these gaps and remove food particles that are prone to plaque.
In short, the front surface of teeth that most of us focus on when brushing our teeth isn’t that important. Brushing those areas may not necessarily be effective in preventing plaque formation. To make matters worse, we brush so hard, so fast, and so wide that the bristles barely have a chance to get into the gaps that need to be brushed. Taking such a wrong way to brush teeth for a long time not only leads to inefficient brushing but also may lead to gum receding and enamel damage.
So, if you want to be a good brusher, start brushing where it matters and do it the right way!
So how can we maintain good oral health by brushing our teeth without damaging our gums? To begin with, don’t brush too hard, and don’t brush too fast! According to dentists, you should try to brush one tooth at a time to ensure that each tooth is cleaned. You should focus on the gums and the areas where the teeth are connected. Move the toothbrush gently in these areas, allowing the fine bristles to move into the gaps and remove any remaining food. If you follow the procedure to the letter, then you will understand why your dentist recommends brushing your teeth for “two minutes” each time. After all, if you brush too fast or too broadly, you won’t be able to do a serious cleaning of each tooth within less than two minutes.
Moreover, gentle short strokes are important.
This helps to position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, making it easier for the bristles to get into the gums. Given that gums are sensitive areas, this will also help prevent them from receding due to vigorous brushing.
Last but not least, try to develop the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day.
Since plaque forms, while you let food sit if you brush your teeth once a day, the potential for food debris to build up and cause harm is greatly increased. Research suggests it may be even more important to brush your teeth at night. Because we produce very little saliva during sleep, giving up brushing your teeth at night means you’re leaving food in your mouth undisturbed all night, inducing plaque to build up.
If you would like to learn more about toothbrushes and toothpaste, don’t hesitate to contact us to seek assistance. We are at your service!