3 Easy Toothbrushing Techniques for Sparkling Teeth from Our San Diego Orthodontist
Feeling self-conscious about your smile can significantly impact the quality of your life. As a result, you may feel more reluctant to smile in photos, experience toothaches multiple times a year, and need help with bad breath. Fortunately, it’s easy to turn your dental hygiene around by adopting just a few easy habits suggested by our San Diego orthodontist.
Orthodontics require a healthy and strong smile, which makes daily dental care that much more important. Keep reading to learn three easy tooth brushing techniques that can enhance your dental health!
Use Circular Motions
Instead of broad back-and-forth motions on the front of your teeth and by your gums, focus on using small, circular motions. This ensures that you’re brushing every part of each tooth thoroughly.
As you brush, make sure to keep light, gentle pressure. The amount of time you brush is more important than how much pressure you apply, as your toothpaste and bristles will do most of the work.
Be sure to ask Dr. Lee about any sort of helpful tools you can use to properly clean your teeth during your orthodontic treatment. Patients may find it difficult to clean their smile while they're wearing braces, but thankfully there are advanced and efficient tools to get the job done.
Follow the 2-2-2 Rule
The 2-2-2 rule stipulates that you should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time and schedule general cleaning appointments with your dentist twice a year. By following this rule, you can see a drastic change in the health of your teeth over time.
Brushing for two minutes is especially important, as any less, and you’re probably not hitting all the surfaces of your teeth. Anymore, and you have a greater chance of damaging your enamel or gums. Stick to two minutes!
Upgrade Your Tools
Lastly, keep in mind that changing your toothbrush or the head of your electric toothbrush is recommended every three months. This ensures that your bristles are working effectively and mitigates the buildup of harmful bacteria on your toothbrush.
You can also consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush. These toothbrushes make it easy to brush your teeth thoroughly, and some even include timers to ensure you’re brushing for the right amount of time. Pressure sensors can also tell you whether you’re too hard on your teeth, which can damage your enamel and shrink your gums.
If you're not sure what kind of toothbrush to use during your orthodontic treatment, don't hesitate to ask us!
Start Brushing the Right Way Today
These toothbrushing tips will give you a lifetime of clean, healthy, sparkling teeth. You’ll have greater confidence in your smile, fresher breath each day, and even better, less expensive visits to the dentist.
Of course, remember that even if you’re brushing correctly, you still need to see your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning. Our San Diego orthodontist encourages patients to be ever vigilante with their dental health during their orthodontic treatment to ensure you're on your way to the smile of your dreams.
