Why you shouldn't put off brushing your teeth

It’s a no brainer that brushing your teeth is not only an important part of your general health but is vital to your oral hygiene.

You would not believe how many people skip or incorrectly do this important step, which should be a part of their everyday routine. Therefore, we have devised six steps on how to properly brush your teeth and look after your overall oral health.

Step 1: Floss your teeth

Many people roll their eyes when being reminded about flossing their teeth – but it’s a fact! The main benefits of using dental floss is that it removes plaque and reduces the risk of gum disease. Flossing is recommended at least once daily to remove the plaque between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. When plaque is built up through lack of flossing, it calcifies on your teeth, creating a high risk of gum disease.

Step 2: Choose your tool wisely

Your toothbrush is the key tool in taking care of your teeth and gums. Therefore, choosing your toothbrush should be a well thought-out decision. Firstly, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush. No, your dentist wasn’t lying, electric toothbrushes are more effective than regular toothbrushes. Dentist Dr Toby Edwards-Lunn agreed with this, stating that the sticky plaque on your teeth comes away with less effort with an electric toothbrush. However, if you decide against an electric toothbrush, consider a brush with soft bristles, as this is more gentle on your gum line.

Step 3: Wait 30 minutes

This simple step is one that many people are unaware of. After consuming anything containing citric acid, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, you should wait at least 30 minutes until brushing your teeth. These highly acidic foods weaken tooth enamel, therefore brushing too soon after eating them can damage the enamel.

Step 4: Go fluoride

A lot of people don’t actually know what’s in toothpaste, and more specifically, how certain ingredients are better for your dental hygiene. Fluoride toothpaste is another way to eliminate plaque, as well as preventing tooth decay.

Step 5: Don’t forget the tongue

Cleaning your tongue doesn’t only assist in reducing bad breath, but also removes bacteria. Getting rid of this bacteria is vital to your oral health as it can lead to serious tooth damage.

Step 6 – Don’t rinse

The Oral Health Foundation has developed new research about how many of us are putting our oral health at risk by rinsing our mouth with water after brushing. This poll discovered that 62% of us rinse our mouth out with water, which makes us more prone to developing tooth decay. Research shows that rinsing our mouth is bad for our teeth as it washes away the protective fluoride left behind by brushing. So, don’t rinse! Keep that good fluoride inside to strengthen your tooth enamel.

So, there you go! A few simple steps to maintaining good dental hygiene. Make sure you don’t skip any of these steps as they will help your teeth stay clean and strong.