Most Dentists will tell you that you should spend at least 2 minutes brushing your teeth twice a day.
Below are a few more good ideas that may help:
- Try and hold your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gumline.
- Carefully brush from where the tooth and gum meet to the chewing surface in short strokes.Note that if you brush too hard you can cause your gums to recede.
- When you are brushing the chewing surfaces of your teeth, you should always use short sweeping strokes, tipping the bristles into the crevices of your teeth.
- When you are brushing the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front teeth, you should be holding the brush close to vertical. Then, using back and forth motions, bring the front part of the brush over the gums and teeth.
- When you are brushing your tongue, use a forward sweeping motion, to remove the decay-causing bacteria that is found on the tongue.
- When you are brushing the roof of your mouth, use a forward sweeping motion, to remove the decay-causing bacteria that is found on the roof of your mouth.
- Try and find something around the house that lets you know when 2 minutes has elapsed. Many electronic toothbrushes have timers in them that will let you know when the time is up. This is especially good for kids that have a hard time being consistent each day.
