How to Brush Your Teeth Properly: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimal Oral Hygiene

To keep your mouth healthy, it is essential to adopt optimal brushing . If this is important, the techniques and products you use are just as important. They allow your teeth and gums to stay healthy , and avoid many problems such as gingivitis .

To maintain good dental hygiene , we advise you to brush your teeth twice a day . Thanks to this, you rid your mouth of bacteria, food residues, and you eliminate the dental plaque that forms throughout the day.

If your teeth are healthy, there is no contraindication to adding brushing after lunch. On the other hand, if you suffer from dental diseases, such as periodontitis, or if you brush your teeth too vigorously, a third brushing can accelerate the wear of your teeth.

The French Union for Oral Health advises brushing your teeth for at least two minutes. This allows you to be sure that all your teeth have seen your toothbrush!

To properly brush each upper tooth , tilt your brush at a 45° angle to the surface of your teeth. Start with the exterior side . Then place the bristles of your brush against the gum line. Perform vertical movements neither too quickly nor with too much energy! Gradually move your toothbrush along the top row, taking care to brush each tooth individually.

How to properly brush your lower teeth ? Exactly the same way as the upper teeth! Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas, such as the back molars and the spaces between your teeth.

Dental care of chewing surfaces is a little different. To ensure their hygiene, place the bristles of your toothbrush against the upper or lower part. Use short, gentle back and forth movements.

How to brush your teeth correctly? Quite simply using all the arsenal you already know, plus a few accessories that can be very useful

Manual toothbrushes cost less. Easy to use, they require no charging. Furthermore, you can easily find them in your pharmacies or supermarkets. Finally, you have complete control of the pressure you exert. Perfect, therefore, if you have sensitive gums !

This type of brush also has disadvantages. It is more difficult to remove plaque and food residue. It is also necessary to adopt the right actions to effectively clean all surfaces of the teeth.

An electric toothbrush with sonic vibrations penetrates deep into the spaces between your teeth and along the gum line . The rapid back-and-forth vertical movements (at a rate of 31,000 to 40,000 movements per minute) of the sonic brushes not only effectively remove all dental plaque, but also polish the surface of the teeth. Little by little, they are freed from stains and gain shine . These devices are generally light, ergonomic and easy to handle.

An electric toothbrush costs more than a manual toothbrush . Also, it is essential to use batteries or recharge your brush. You should also remember to clean the charging base to avoid the accumulation of microbes. Finally, people with sensitive gums or dental problems may be bothered by vibrations or rapid movements of electric instruments.

Sometimes it may be necessary to use brushes or floss to maintain impeccable dental hygiene.

They help to better rid your teeth of small food debris that accumulates and is not accessible to your toothbrush. They help prevent cavities, gingivitis or periodontitis , and other periodontal diseases such as receding gums or receding gums .

How to use a brush head ? Do not hesitate to bend it 90° so that it passes more easily. You can also pass it perpendicularly through the space to be cleaned, with a back and forth movement.

It's not enough ? It’s time to floss!

Get about 45 to 50 centimeters of dental floss , which you wrap around each index finger. Gently insert it between two adjacent teeth, using a back and forth motion. Run it gently under the gum line and make sure it slides between the teeth without forcing.

Once the floss is in place, gently slide it back and forth, making sure to clean both sides of the tooth. Repeat this step for each interdental space.

Dentists recommend using toothpaste that contains fluoride , an essential compound for preventing cavities and strengthening enamel. In addition, fluoride is not bad for your health when its concentration is appropriate.

This component makes teeth more resistant to acid attacks caused by bacteria present in the mouth , dental plaque but also by the sugars in the foods we eat. It is also useful in reducing the sensitivity of teeth to cold and heat .

Manual attachments are often preferred for their ease of use, affordability and the control they offer over brushing pressure. However, electric toothbrushes are growing in popularity due to their effectiveness in preventing tartar build-up and their ability to make brushing easier for some users, especially those with mobility issues.

Although power tools require a higher initial investment and power source, they can provide a more thorough clean and better long-term mouth and tooth health for many individuals.

Choosing between a manual and electric toothbrush often depends on each person's preferences, budget and specific needs.

Sonic toothbrushes use ultrasonic vibration technology to generate rapid movements of the brush head. This produces vibrations that act on the teeth and gums to remove plaque.

Rotating brushes feature brush heads that perform circular or oscillating motions to thoroughly clean teeth. Sonic vs. rotating toothbrushes are often touted for their ability to reach the spaces between your teeth and stimulate the gums, where rotating toothbrushes are praised for their deep cleaning action and ability to prevent gum formation. of tartar.

First identify your needs. There are different mouthwashes, for different needs: protection against cavities, control of dental plaque, etc.

Next, check the active ingredients. Mouthwashes often contain ingredients such as fluoride, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), or hexetidine.

Avoid irritating ingredients. Some products contain ingredients that can be irritating, such as alcohol. If you have sensitive gums or a mouth prone to irritation, choose products without alcohol or with reduced alcohol concentrations.

Don't forget to brush your tongue ! In fact, a large quantity of bacteria responsible for bad breath can accumulate there. Using a tongue scraper or soft toothbrush to regularly clean the surface of your tongue can help reduce this bacteria buildup and keep your breath fresh.

Likewise, using a dental floss complements your routine by removing food debris and microbes from between your teeth and along the gum line.

Why shouldn't you rinse your mouth immediately after brushing?

It is not recommended to rinse your mouth immediately after brushing because time allows the active agents in the toothpaste to stay in contact with your teeth longer. This strengthens the enamel and prevents cavities.

Why is it crucial to brush your teeth to prevent oral diseases?

Brushing your teeth is crucial because it removes plaque, a buildup of bacteria on the teeth that can cause cavities, gingivitis, and other serious dental problems if not treated in time.

You will have understood, brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day is enough to maintain. Good oral hygiene!