What kind of toothbrush should I be using?

Here at M Street Dental, we care about you and the health of your teeth. As such, we are committed to providing you with the highest possible caliber of oral health resources, to ensure your routine is as proficient as possible. 

The evolution of dentistry and our understanding of a comprehensive oral health care routine has come leaps and bounds. In some cultures, early techniques included chewing on bark or sticks with frayed ends, feathers, fish bones, and porcupine quills. Thankfully, these practices are a thing of the past. 

So, what kind of toothbrush should you be using, and which model(s) do we recommend? 

First, it is our recommendation that you opt for an electric toothbrush as opposed to a manual one. Studies have shown electric toothbrushes to be more effective at achieving the following:

• Overall plaque removal. Studies show that in general, electric toothbrushes do a much better job of decreasing plaque and gingivitis. Plaque leads to both cavities (loss of tooth structure) and periodontal infection (bone loss).

• Cleaning and maintaining your gum health–without causing trauma to the enamel of your teeth, or aggravating your gums. 

• Ensuring you’re brushing long enough. Since most electric toothbrushes come with a built-in timer, making sure you are spending enough time brushing your teeth is much easier to track by comparison to a manual toothbrush. 

When it comes to using the best toothbrush on the market to ensure your teeth and gums are being kept healthy, we specifically recommend both Sonicare and Oral-B electric toothbrushes. Removing plaque from your teeth is one of the pillars in a well balanced oral care routine. The above mentioned products are both highly effective at removing plaque from teeth in comparison to a manual toothbrush.

Even with the best toothbrush at your disposal, it’s still possible you may not be brushing your teeth properly. 

How long should I be brushing for? Am I brushing my teeth the right way?

Let’s have a look at some of the must-haves in your oral care routine so that you can guarantee your smile stays bright and healthy for as long as possible. 

How to brush your teeth:

1. Begin brushing at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. To ensure each nook and cranny gets its share of your attention, direct your toothbrush bristles to where your gums and teeth meet. Maintain a gentle, circular, massaging motion, up and down. Always brush both your teeth and gums–even those with recession (just ensure you brush lightly, when that is the case).

2. Ensure that every surface of each tooth is cleaned;the chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side. 

3. Spend some time. Avoid rushing through your tooth brushing ritual. Proper brushing should take at least 2-3 minutes. If you don’t have an electric toothbrush with a timer, try setting one on your phone or wristwatch. 

4. Experiment with your brushing pattern(s). If you brush your teeth in the same direction every time, you’re bound to be missing the same spots over and over. If you normally brush in clockwise motions, try periodically switching to counterclockwise to ensure you are getting every area of your teeth as clean as possible. 

5. Avoid using brushes that are too stiff - as is the case with scrubbing your teeth, and the damage this can cause, brushes that are too stiff can similarly cause trauma to your gums, etc. 

We hoped the above helped. As you move forward in your self-care routine, try to be mindful of these tips (and feel free to pass them along to a friend in need).

The ways in which we care for our teeth, ensuring that our smile stays bright and healthy, will forever be evolving. One thing that won’t change is our commitment to you and your oral health. While trends may come and go, you can trust that we  remain steadfast in delivering to you the best possible resources to guarantee the job of caring for your smile is made as straightforward and simple as possible. 

From all of us at M Street Dental, 

Stay Smiling.

Get in touch with one of our dental experts today. We can’t wait to hear from you.