Brushing Technique

• Using a SOFT* bristle brush, remember to brush after every meal and right before you go to sleep.
• Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums, as seen in the picture above.
• Brush in a back and forth motion, remembering to clean the teeth near the gums.
• You may need to angle the brush vertically to clean the inside of your front teeth.
• Don't forget to BRUSH YOUR TONGUE! Thousand of small grooves in your tongue collect bacteria and plaque.

*Soft bristle brushes are recommended to prevent damage to the gums and teeth.  Aggressive brushing with harder bristles as a Very Common problem which leads to gum recession and erosion of the teeth! 

Often, it is difficult to adequately brush the upper back molars due to impingement from the cheek.  To adequately clean this area, you may need to use a smaller size brush.  Also, shift your lower jaw to the side you are brushing, thereby loosening the cheek to allow the brush to reach further back.

As a dentist, I have seen remarkable improvement in oral hygiene with many of our patients who have switched to ultrasonic toothbrushes such as the Sonicare.  If you are at all curious about such toothbrushes, ask your dentist if one is right for you!

Remember to change to a new brush every 3 months or when the bristles appear frayed.

Please see our FLOSSING PAGE for further oral hygiene tips.